The Hindu : Sport / Football : I have nothing against Bhutia: Nayeemuddin

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Wednesday, Mar 29, 2006

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I have nothing against Bhutia: Nayeemuddin

Sports Reporter

Says the AIFF did not provide adequate time to prepare for crucial matches

Syed Nayeemuddin. - FILE PHOTO: R. RAGU

KOLKATA: Deposed National chief football coach Syed Nayeemuddin negated allegations about a spite between him and the captain Baichung Bhutia saying that he had nothing to say against the latter. ``The last time I had a chat with Baichung was after winning SAFF Cup in Pakistan. He had congratulated me for the triumph and that is more important to me,'' Nayeem said during a tete-a - tete with the media on Tuesday. He said that the National captain never came up to him and complained about the problems and shortcomings besieging the team.

``It is from the quotes in the media that I find his (Bhutia's) reservations against my style of functioning,'' the coach said.

The coach came out with his feelings in the open for the first time after he received the official letter from the National body on Monday that confirmed his ``release'' from the top job. Never sounding bitter about his truncated stint as the top coach of the country, Nayeem said he felt dejected that the National body did not seek his views before terminating his service. ``I was unceremoniously released and the National federation did not furnish any good reason to support its action,'' Nayeem said as he read out the AIFF missive. It said that Nayeem was ``released from the duties of the chief coach from April 1,'' in accordance to the decision taken by the technical committee.

False charges

The coach said that the charges of apparently overworking the players in the camp were false. ``I never forced anything upon the players. As a trainer I was supposed to work on their fitness. We were given a very short time to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers against Japan and Yemen and so I just tried to complete the training schedule. None of the players ever complained to me about anything,'' he said.

``It is because of my fitness regime these players are playing so well in the National Football League,'' he added.

Nayeem said the AIFF did not provide adequate support or time to prepare for the important matches. ``We hardly played any friendlies and all the talk about exposure trips never matured.'' He said that he ``respects'' the AIFF decision of importing a foreign coach, but was not sure it would solve any problem. ``We have good people within the country to do the job then why should we spend a fortune on a foreigner to do the same thing?'' he asked.

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