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Subrata's Success Will Change The Face Of Indian Goalkeepers - Former Coach
Goal.com caught up with former India goalkeeper and ex goalkeeping coach of Subrata Paul, Debasis Mukherjee...
23-Oct-2009 5:37:22 PM
Subrata Paul first trained under former India and East
Bengal goalkeeper Debasis Mukherjee, when he was part of the Bengal Santosh
Trophy team as a teenager.
Mukherjee has therefore seen him grow up from a young upcoming keeper to being the best in the country. So naturally he is a bit more delighted with Paul’s success than others.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “I am so happy to see Subrata where he is now. His performances in the Nehru Cup were exceptional and so he thoroughly deserves the player of the year award.”
Since it’s inception in 1992, the AIFF player of the year was never been won by a goalkeeper before this. So Mukherjee feels Paul’s achievement will change the reputation of Indian goalkeepers.
“Goalkeepers are always the neglected class in football, especially in India. Even though they do the most difficult task on the pitch, they have always been paid less money compared to other players.
“But recently goalkeepers are being given the credit they deserve, at least financially and Paul has played a big hand in this change.
“He has been performing consistently for the last two-three years and now after becoming the first keeper to win the player of the year honour he has done every custodian (past and present) in this country proud.
“His success will certainly change the face of Indian goalkeepers.”
He then went on to talk about his close association with the Pune FC keeper and said that he always felt that Paul had the ability to make it big.
“I first saw him when he was in the Bengal Santosh Trophy team. He was a teenager back then but he already had the body structure which a goalkeeper needs.
“He is very hard working and never gives up which everyone knows by the way he has come back from difficult times every time. The way he trained always gave me and other coaches the feeling that this boy will play for India one day and now he is the best in the business.”
East Bengal were not impressed by Paul’s performances last season and thus released him. One such performance was in the Federation Cup semi final when the red and gold brigade lost on penalties to arch rivals Mohun Bagan.
Debasis Mukherjee was the goalkeeper coach of East Bengal that time and after that result the whole blame was put on him and his student – Paul.
The former international feels that the criticism was unfair and added that the unprofessional environment around the big clubs of Kolkata forces talented Bengali players like Subrata to ply their trade outside the City of Joy.
“Myself and Subrata were blamed entirely for the Fed Cup defeat against Mohun Bagan. But the criticism was totally unjust because a goalkeeper cannot be blamed entirely for a penalty shootout defeat.
“Incidents like that are pushing Bengal football further down. Nowadays Indian football is not only about East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
“Yes the derby between them is exciting but that’s it. There is too much unnecessary pressure on players while the club officials just need a reason to publicly criticize and humiliate players and coaches.
“That kind of environment forces talented players like Subrata to play outside Kolkata.”
Mukherjee finally acknowledged the contribution of Houghton in Subrata’s success and like Pune coach Derrick Pereira, tipped Subrata to captain India in future but reminded him to remain consistent.
“Bob Houghton has said all along that Subrata is the best goalkeeper in the country which acts as a massive boost for him (Subrata).
“Subrata has been very consistent but he has to maintain that because the position of an Indian goalkeeper is very risky.
“If he keeps performing well he will play a number of years for the country and so can definitely be the captain in future,” he concluded.
Amoy Ghoshal
Mukherjee has therefore seen him grow up from a young upcoming keeper to being the best in the country. So naturally he is a bit more delighted with Paul’s success than others.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “I am so happy to see Subrata where he is now. His performances in the Nehru Cup were exceptional and so he thoroughly deserves the player of the year award.”
Since it’s inception in 1992, the AIFF player of the year was never been won by a goalkeeper before this. So Mukherjee feels Paul’s achievement will change the reputation of Indian goalkeepers.
“Goalkeepers are always the neglected class in football, especially in India. Even though they do the most difficult task on the pitch, they have always been paid less money compared to other players.
“But recently goalkeepers are being given the credit they deserve, at least financially and Paul has played a big hand in this change.
“He has been performing consistently for the last two-three years and now after becoming the first keeper to win the player of the year honour he has done every custodian (past and present) in this country proud.
“His success will certainly change the face of Indian goalkeepers.”
He then went on to talk about his close association with the Pune FC keeper and said that he always felt that Paul had the ability to make it big.
“I first saw him when he was in the Bengal Santosh Trophy team. He was a teenager back then but he already had the body structure which a goalkeeper needs.
“He is very hard working and never gives up which everyone knows by the way he has come back from difficult times every time. The way he trained always gave me and other coaches the feeling that this boy will play for India one day and now he is the best in the business.”
East Bengal were not impressed by Paul’s performances last season and thus released him. One such performance was in the Federation Cup semi final when the red and gold brigade lost on penalties to arch rivals Mohun Bagan.
Debasis Mukherjee was the goalkeeper coach of East Bengal that time and after that result the whole blame was put on him and his student – Paul.
The former international feels that the criticism was unfair and added that the unprofessional environment around the big clubs of Kolkata forces talented Bengali players like Subrata to ply their trade outside the City of Joy.
“Myself and Subrata were blamed entirely for the Fed Cup defeat against Mohun Bagan. But the criticism was totally unjust because a goalkeeper cannot be blamed entirely for a penalty shootout defeat.
“Incidents like that are pushing Bengal football further down. Nowadays Indian football is not only about East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
“Yes the derby between them is exciting but that’s it. There is too much unnecessary pressure on players while the club officials just need a reason to publicly criticize and humiliate players and coaches.
“That kind of environment forces talented players like Subrata to play outside Kolkata.”
Mukherjee finally acknowledged the contribution of Houghton in Subrata’s success and like Pune coach Derrick Pereira, tipped Subrata to captain India in future but reminded him to remain consistent.
“Bob Houghton has said all along that Subrata is the best goalkeeper in the country which acts as a massive boost for him (Subrata).
“Subrata has been very consistent but he has to maintain that because the position of an Indian goalkeeper is very risky.
“If he keeps performing well he will play a number of years for the country and so can definitely be the captain in future,” he concluded.
Amoy Ghoshal
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