We formally introduced MohunBaganClub.com, and Green and Maroon. As an associate of the club, he knows many things about G&M and MohunBaganClub.com. It seems that he knows more about us than we know about him. At the very first appearance, he might look like a strong and disciplined army officer, but after some time, the people around him, will feel the sensitive depth of his feeling towards the great game, and his dedicated love for football.

We asked him about himself. The conversation started like the following -  

Somnath – Jahar da, unlike other coaches of the big clubs in Kolkata, you are among the least known figures of the football fraternity. Still today, you are almost unknown to the common football fans of Kolkata and India. So first of all, we would like to know about you.

 Jahar Das – Yes, it is true, that unlike other coaches, I do not enjoy the fame. But let me tell you one thing, for last 20 years, I was attached with the football coaching, and not a single day, I was jobless or seating idol. After leaving the game as a player, I dedicated myself as a coach of the football. I am among the very few coaches in India, who has got the FIFA ‘A’ Grade License holder.

 Sumanta – What is this License? Can you describe this license and category for our readers?

 Jahar Das – Yes, off course. There are three types of courses in FIFA for the coaches. The first project in which I joined, was the “FIFA Coca-Cola Coaches Project – 1”. I completed this project along with Arun Ghosh, Basa, Chuni Goswami and Kittu. I have got the ‘A’ License from this in Germany in 1985.

 Then I attended another course from FIFA, which is known as “Project – 2”. This training was held in China, and I was directly nominated by FIFA. Our chief coach there was the famous Josef Venglos.

 The third Project that I have attended was held in Jordan. In which I got the ‘A’ grade. If you see the courses, I am the only one, who has done these 3 courses. I even participated in a seminar on the Olympic football.

Sumanta – You said the level of fitness of the players of this team is not up to the mark. But we saw this team was running for 90+ minutes at the same pace in Kolkata league. So what make you feel, that the team’s fitness level is low. 

Jahar Das – I saw, that they have a lazy approach, disorganized; there is lack of seriousness on fitness level. I think that is one of the reasons behind the failure of IFA Shield and Federation Cup. And I think, the decision of not participate in the Durand cup is a very good decision taken by the club officials. With this motivation and fitness level, the team is not ready to take head on clashes with the powerful opponents. On 22^nd and 24^th December (If we win the first match), we have to play in All Airlines Gold Cup. Following the tournament, we are going to have a 10-12 days residential camp at the Durgapur Academy. Since we have all the modern facilities there, we do not have to run for gym or swimming of sand training. There is a beautiful sand field at the Damodar river in Durgapur adjacent to the Durgapur Barrage. Nowhere in the country you can have such a long empty sand field for your practice. In Kolkata, there is no such infrastructure, which can match the infrastructure of the Academy at Durgapur.

Partha Pratim Roy – Is there any deficit in the current squad you have?

Jahar Das – Well, to be honest, it is the Goalkeeper and the Striker. I am not saying that the players I have are not good. But it is not matching with other positions, or you can say there is no combination between the rest of the team and these two positions. Subrata got some setback in recent future. So there is some reason for him for not giving his best at this moment. But for the striker position, we definitely need two good players.

Partha Pratim Roy – We see that in foreign countries the sports medicine is sometimes a deciding factor in neck to neck run between two teams. Counting some serious injuries in our team, what is your opinion for the sports medicine? Can we adopt a good scientific strategy for the players?

Jahar Das – See, if you are talking about the senior team, then there is a limit of age, above which no sports medicine can help a player to build himself as a good player. It must be start from the very beginning. Sports medicine is not only some pills. It is the scientific attitude and approach, which build a player at his best. So it must be adopted from the very beginning of the career of a player. The tests will tell a player that where are the deficits. Is he good for a short run? Or he is good with his endurance? The player then has to adopt correct procedure to develop the areas where he is lacking. It is the attitude of the player, in which he can feel, that what is the fitness and where he is lacking. But again, for the senior team, we can try, but still there is a age limit. All it need to understand the awareness of the player about his well-being. In our academy, the boys are given education for this.

 The second thing about this is psychology. Our players from the academy played in second division this year. They were in a secured disciplined custody of the Academy till then. The barracking, and play-acting of the players of the opponent teams came as a surprise to them. So you have seen some misbehaves from the academy boys during the matches. Only proper psychological training courses can help a player to play at his best level under such stress.

 I have to say one thing for this. The infrastructure is everything for football. And the truth is, we have not started that yet. To reach a stable condition regarding infrastructure, we need to spare 12-15 years. So it is really a matter, that we have not started that yet.

 The clubs also should take strong disciplinary plan for the team. Otherwise, the team will be lacking the team spirit.

Partha Pratim Roy – What about the NFL? What are our chances according to you.

 Jahar Das – See, as I told you, we are lacking in two positions. The Goalkeeper and the Striker. As per our current squad, the goalkeeper can be taken care of. But we have to get some good strikers. I am not asking for Majid Basker or Barreto. What I am asking for is, a pair of players, with good quality compare to Indian Standard. Even a player with the standard of Rodrigue with good attitude and discipline will work for this team.

Somnath – Is there any hope, to get new player?

Jahar Das – Yes, the recruiters are searching for it. They are doing their level best. Let’s see. What they get.

Sumanta – East Bengal seems to be going for a foreign coach, as per the news paper reports. What do you think about that?

Jahar Das – East Bengal is currently run by the Ex-Players. Even Mohun Bagan was ruled by Ex-Players such as Subrata Bhattacharya. They got success for some time too. But a man, who worked for his entire career in a Mechanical Unit, cannot be a Professor of Mechanics. So for a team, you must have a qualified coach. I think East Bengal is taking a good decision.

Somnath – What kind of work you are doing with the computer you have? How it is helping you for the team.

 Jahar Das – See, I am putting every kind of known data to me into it. And I am going to do extensive analysis with the available data. This will help me to find out the all “Why” “What” and “How” about the players and the team. I am going to hand over a daily feedback sheet to the players. In which they have to fill up their daily success and faults. See, when the team wins, we forget about the faults or mistakes that we have committed. When we lost, we think, everything is wrong. That is not the case. Every match is a combination of success and failure. Now if the players can take a turn and see what they have done, that will help them to rectify in the future.

  - Somnath Chattopadhyay

  - Partha Pratim Roy 

  - Sumanta Pramanik