A Chak De story for Khalid

It was around this time last year when the Mumbai FC sacked Khalid Jamil. It was heart-breaking as he had done everything to make them survive the past seven seasons despite a modest squad and limited resources. He had led Mumbai FC to an impressive fifth place finish in the 2015-16 season. This decision from the Mumbai FC shocked him. Suddenly, he was considered a failure and his dream to win the I-League seemed over.

However, he got through with strong support from his family and friends. Then came the offer from Aizawl FC which he accepted as a challenge. It took him all, as the North-East club was far away from home and had negligible budgets. That did not deter Jamil. Aizawl was relegated but was given a lifeline by the All India Football Federation after a pull-out from the Goan club. Jamil and Aizawl were now equalled of sorts, thrown together to prove their mettle.

 “It was a tough time. It also was the month of Ramzan. Things happened suddenly, but I love challenges, and when the offer came (from Aizawl) I went for it,” he said. At the end of the season (2016-17) he did a Claudio Ranieri by guiding minnows Aizawl for their first I-League triumph in style similar to the Leicester City win in the English Premier League in May 2016.

“It was an unbelievable journey and a great experience. We enjoyed every moment as a team. It all happened because of the commitment of the players and the support of the management,” said Jamil, now regarded as a master tactician and perhaps the best coach present in the I-League.

Considered as the players’ favourite coach, Jamil was well known for getting the most out the players with his exceptional motivational skills. Keeping this in mind, Jamil brought in Albino Gomes, Jayesh Rane and Ashutosh Mehta from his previous club. Due to limited resources, Jamil held local talent at the core and used his fluency in Arabic to convince the Syrian midfielder Mahmoud Al-Amna to join them.

With the record of eight wins and a single draw out of the nine matches having conceded just three goals, Jamil showed proved his detractors wrong, and how. At Cooperage, he used the physicality of his players for a resolute defence and relied on counter attacking to defy big clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Bengaluru FC. In Aizawl, he had short players at his disposal, so he mostly preferred the attack mode. Jamil always devised his strategy by reading the moves of the opponents minutely.

The remarkable feat with Aizawl won him AIFF coach of the year (2016-17) award on Thursday.

“It was a pleasure to receive the award. It gives me encouragement,” said Jamil, who is set to move to East Bengal for the next season. “It was Ramzan also when I lost the job I loved. But today, thanks to Allah, I am getting calls from everywhere. Life teaches you lessons during tough times,” he said while admitting he is considering the East Bengal offer seriously, although a couple of other I-League clubs have also approached him.

The East Bengal job management has a track record of mid-season sackings. “I understand the pressure the new job will bring in, and I am ready for the challenge. I will take one match at a time,” he said about the Kolkata giants who haven’t won a national league since the 2002-03 season.

Ironically, Mumbai FC did not survive in the first season without Jamil and was relegated for the first time. The city-based club who sacked Jamil’s replacement Santosh Kashyap mid-way through the season still stands by its decision of sacking Jamil, but he holds no grudges towards them. “I wish them best of luck,” he signed off.