Bruno Coutinho, looking trim in formals, talks as thoughtfully on the game as his fluent passing skills during his playing days as an attacking midfielder for club and country.
The former India captain is enjoying his first stint as an expert analyst on television for the Federation Cup Championships here, as he breaks down the frenetic on-field action at Vasco’s Tilak Maidan and Fatorda’s Nehru stadium for the viewer.
“It is a learning experience for me. I get to look at football in a different way,” said the one-time AIFF Player of the Year. Live coverage has opened a door of opportunity for articulate ex-internationals in the first domestic club competition following the Indian Super League.
Coutinho’s generation was such a bunch of assertive individual players that an event like the ISL would have taken them to new heights. “I just hope the young players who got noticed due to the ISL go on to perform in the same way for the Indian national team. That is my wish,” he added.
“Displays over two months is fine, it will get you attention. But real quality comes through only when you can keep getting better over the next five seasons at least,” said the former Salgaocar, Goa and India player, who keeps in touch with the game as Joint Director, Sports Authority of Goa.
“I also hope the federation finds a way to get players from India’s best clubs — Bengaluru FC, Salgaocar SC for example — into the ISL, so that we get to see the cream of Indian football matching skills with others.”
Bengaluru FC and Salgaocar SC advanced into the Federation Cup penultimate round, to be played on Friday, joined by Dempo SC and Sporting Clube de Goa. The Kolkata clubs have been elbowed out by sides better organised on the field and possessing big-match players like those highly-paid stars from the clubs in eastern India.
Wake-up call “It is a wake-up call for Kolkata teams, for whom the Federation Cup is over this time. The I -League comes up next so they can show the rest of India what they are capable of,” said Coutinho.
East Bengal, coached by former Dempo supreme Armando Colaco, came with sniffing distance of a semifinal place, only to be shown the door by Sporting Clube de Goa.
Mohun Bagan was not in contention for a top-two place in the group stage, while Mohammedan Sporting has shut down.
Coutinho watched the East Bengal defence come apart in the face of Sporting Clube’s assault and hopes Colaco will get time to deliver over a few seasons, the way he managed the show at Dempo for years.
“Sporting played in a way they have never played before. They had to win so went in for the kill and East Bengal crumbled. I thought the Goan side was under-estimated and Sporting made them paid a heavy price,” he said, adding, “Armando (Colaco) stayed with Dempo for many seasons and got the team to win so many titles. I hope his performance is not judged by one big Federation Cup defeat.
“The major change is that at one time they were considered unbeatable at home, now they are getting beaten there too. Teams looking good on paper is not enough; Kolkata clubs should have learnt that by now.”
Atletico de Kolkata’s title win in the first ISL does not leave him breathless with excitement. His analysis? “Kerala Blasters attacked, Mohammed Rafique scored and Kolkata became champion.”
Asked about Bengaluru FC’s success on I-League debut last season, and new sides like Pune FC making an impact, Bruno felt players just need a platform to perform.
“The ISL showed quality in Indians in each franchise. Players from Bengaluru and Salgaocar are some of the best we have, their presence in the future should bring out the best in others who shone this time.”
He agrees the ISL has made an impact on the sporting public and improved the connect with fans. “FC Goa enjoyed huge support in Goa; people followed it as the team was their own. Dempo, Salgaocar or Churchill Brothers did not see such fan following across the state.”
Team to watch The former India captain, a crowd-puller know for his astute passing and stunning long-range goals, feels Dempo is the team to watch out for in Federation Cup for its exciting brand of play and tips Sporting Clube as dangerous to opponents who under-estimate it.
“People come to watch entertaining football. My son and daughter followed FC Goa keenly because matches were watchable, they know all FC Goa players by now.
“Mandar Desai and Romeo Fernandes are just two performers from that group, representing Dempo over the weekend. As I mentioned earlier, the ISL is over and now is the time for these youngsters and others to perform for India also when chances come.
“Goals and displays over two months are not enough to label anyone as special. I hope these talented youngsters keep their feet on the ground.”
