For the time in the professional football history of Kashmir, both the I-League level clubs of Kashmir have roped in foreign coaches for their upcoming Second Division I-League campaign.
Real Kashmir FC was first to get a foreign coach last year and now Lone Star Kashmir FC has also joined them by roping in Brazilian A-License coach, Clebson Duarte Da Silva for two years.
“After the exit of Hial Rasool Parray , our club was looking for a high profile professional coach. We were lucky to come in contact with Clebson Duarte Da Silva and started negations. It worked and he agreed on to join the club for a two year term,” said Director Lone Star, Iftikhar Lone.
“It is big thing for J&K football as both the clubs who would be playing in second division, I-League this season have got foreign coaches. The dynamics of football in our State are now changing with outsiders ready to come and join the flow,” he said.
Clebson Duarte Da Silva was last year associated with Delhi United Football Club as Director of football. He has already starting training sessions with the club and will be get chance to lead club in its first match of season on March 20 against Delhi Dynamos FC on home turf, Synthetic field, TRC ground.
Meanwhile Real Kashmir FC which became second professional football club of state have been playing under Scottish legend David Robertson since January 2017.
During his short stay with the club so far, David Robertson has already set a long term plan for the club for the development of the game. Under his guidance club last year went to Scotland and played some friendly matches against league sides in that Country. With the Real Kashmir till date is only club to play on foreign soil. Carrying his plan forward club has already started various development projects that include this year’s talent hunt in which club selected under-8 to 12 tea players for the targeted training program.
“It is great to see Lone Star also joining us to rope in foreign coach. The higher the competition the better JK football will become,” said Real Kashmir official.
“We welcome this and will like to see strong Lone Star this season. It will be good for the overall development of football in State as foreign coaches would be sharing their vast knowledge with local players. David Robertson has already been sharing his experience with our local lads since last year and he has done great job. Apart from his coaching role , he is also mentoring our youngsters,” official said.
Real Kashmir would be playing its first match of the season at Synthetic Turf TRC ground against Pune City on March 21.
AIFF recently changed the format and number of teams for the league. Eighteen teams including seven Indian Super League (ISL) clubs, reserve teams (Except ATK, Northeast United FC, Mumbai City FC) who will compete in the preliminary round have been divided into three groups. The Preliminary round kicked off on Wednesday. In the first match of season Mohammedan Sporting defeated Jamshedpur FC by 2-1 in Kolkatta. In another match, of the day Langsning FC played against Chenaiyin.
It is first time that ISL reserve teams are competing in the league. Two Kashmir based clubs have been kept in Group-A which includes, Real Kashmir FC, Lonestar Kashmir FC, Delhi Dynamos FC (reserves), Hindustan FC, Delhi United, FC Pune City (reserves).