By Nilanjan Datta,
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: The first gentleman is now a tourist. You can better call him a visitor. But once upon a time, not long back, he was an integral part of the Dressing Room. In fact, he was the ‘Dressing Room.’
With Syria conquered, Bhaichung Bhutia, for the moment forgot he was wearing a formal suit and was designated to be at the VVIP gallery at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. He took the stairs -- not up, but down, and walked in.
‘Home is where Heart is.’ The ice-bath was on by then; some hadn’t even freshened themselves up. Caring little for his formal suit, he embraced all one by one. The gesture touched everyone. After all, that’s what separates the man from others. He is still a player at heart.
The second gentleman was also in a formal suit. On Wednesday, he stepped into a Team India Dressing Room for the first time ahead of a match. And by now, he is no more the visitor but an integral part of the Dressing Room. In fact, he is the ‘Dressing Room.’
With Syria conquered almost an hour back, the ice bath completed, the post match press conference done and even the customary prayer, Wim Koevermans took a forward step. “Before we leave, I want to say something to you all,” he uttered. The boys looked up.
Three seconds of pin drop silence. “THANK YOU,” Koevermans broke it. The clapping was spontaneous and loud. It had to be. The boys left the Dressing Room and walked towards the Team Bus – an old path but a new walk.
Many new faces, a new Coach stressing on a new style which promises much and an unparallel camaraderie among all – this is a new-age Indian Football Team.
Back at the Dressing Room, Bhaichung and Koevermans had shook hands – both appreciated the other. “I’m proud of my boys. They adjusted fast and implemented the strategies on the field,” Koevermans maintained. “It’s hard to pick up any single individual as far as the Syria match is concerned. It was a team effort.”
‘Team Effort’ stays the buzz in the Camp. “When you win, you cannot bask in the glory for long. In the same manner, when you have a bad Tournament, you ought to forget it fast and move on. Under Wim’s guidance, we are taking that forward step,” Captain Sunil Chhetri informs.
The broad grin on Wim Koevermans becomes broader. A visitor till the other day, the Dutch is at present the Indian ‘Dressing Room.’ The players are looking looking up to him with expectations.
The Chapter has just unfolded.
AIFF Media Team
NEW DELHI: The first gentleman is now a tourist. You can better call him a visitor. But once upon a time, not long back, he was an integral part of the Dressing Room. In fact, he was the ‘Dressing Room.’
With Syria conquered, Bhaichung Bhutia, for the moment forgot he was wearing a formal suit and was designated to be at the VVIP gallery at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. He took the stairs -- not up, but down, and walked in.
‘Home is where Heart is.’ The ice-bath was on by then; some hadn’t even freshened themselves up. Caring little for his formal suit, he embraced all one by one. The gesture touched everyone. After all, that’s what separates the man from others. He is still a player at heart.
The second gentleman was also in a formal suit. On Wednesday, he stepped into a Team India Dressing Room for the first time ahead of a match. And by now, he is no more the visitor but an integral part of the Dressing Room. In fact, he is the ‘Dressing Room.’
With Syria conquered almost an hour back, the ice bath completed, the post match press conference done and even the customary prayer, Wim Koevermans took a forward step. “Before we leave, I want to say something to you all,” he uttered. The boys looked up.
Three seconds of pin drop silence. “THANK YOU,” Koevermans broke it. The clapping was spontaneous and loud. It had to be. The boys left the Dressing Room and walked towards the Team Bus – an old path but a new walk.
Many new faces, a new Coach stressing on a new style which promises much and an unparallel camaraderie among all – this is a new-age Indian Football Team.
Back at the Dressing Room, Bhaichung and Koevermans had shook hands – both appreciated the other. “I’m proud of my boys. They adjusted fast and implemented the strategies on the field,” Koevermans maintained. “It’s hard to pick up any single individual as far as the Syria match is concerned. It was a team effort.”
‘Team Effort’ stays the buzz in the Camp. “When you win, you cannot bask in the glory for long. In the same manner, when you have a bad Tournament, you ought to forget it fast and move on. Under Wim’s guidance, we are taking that forward step,” Captain Sunil Chhetri informs.
The broad grin on Wim Koevermans becomes broader. A visitor till the other day, the Dutch is at present the Indian ‘Dressing Room.’ The players are looking looking up to him with expectations.
The Chapter has just unfolded.
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