Latest Updates

May 2005

By the time many of you read this, I will have returned to the UK a month earlier than planned. The main reason for this is the impending birth of our third child ("made in India", of course), and we are very excited at the prospect of a new addition to the family. And, no, we don’t know whether it's going to be a son -- everyone seems to think that I am desperate for one, but actually I just want a healthy baby. Whatever comes is OK with me. The baby is due in July, so there is a lot to do before then.

Meanwhile, I have just completed my last assignment in India, a coaching course for the SAI coaches from all over the country, which was held at St Stephens Academy in Chandigarh, north of Delhi. The academy is a fine example of what can be done in India without any of the fuss or nonsense found at many other academies here. Most importantly, they are providing players with a solid education. The facilities are excellent and can accommodate up to forty players at a time.

Mr Harold Carver, the man responsible for St Stephens, is doing a great job running the school at his own expense, without any help from any other organization. If there were more such academies here, then India would really be a force to reckon with. Needless to say, the course went off very well. I would like to think that we perhaps awakened some of the SAI coaches and that they will return to their various states to start implementing what they learned.

I also visited the facilities in Phagwara in the Punjab, the home of JCT of the national league, and I must say they have the best facilities of any club I have seen in India. While there I watched training sessions and talked with my old friend Sukhwinder Singh who I replaced three years ago and who will now replace me! I wish Sukhijee all the very best as it is going to be a tough job to maintain the success we've had over the last three years. I hope he gets the appropriate help he will need.

However, with the reappointment of the selection committee and some rather strange appointments by the AIFF in the coaching department, things will be interesting to say the least.

As we leave India, I have mixed feelings. I will miss the players and all the good times we had together. And, of course, being the National Team Coach was a great honour.

The important thing now is to get Lucy back to England where we hope to welcome a happy, healthy new baby. The hunt for the next challenge has also begun and hopefully something will come along soon.

Finally, to all those that helped and supported me during my time in India, a big thank you. I wish you all good health and much happiness.

From India for the last time,

Stephen