The Hindu : Sport / Football : Appukuttan Nair appointed KSEB coach

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Appukuttan Nair appointed KSEB coach

M.R. Praveen Chandran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has appointed Appukuttan Nair as its new football coach. The former Santosh Trophy player, who took charge of the team on Thursday, replaces S. Joseph.

Nair’s appointment is part of KSEB’s measures to revamp a team whose performance has gone on a tailspin in the last two years.

“My priority is to build a strong squad and for that I will bring back the players (on leave) who have left KSEB for other clubs,” the new coach said.

He said the team will resume its training from next month. “All players have been asked to report for training on December 1. I need at least a month to examine the players and to streamline the training schedule,” he said.

Down in the dumps

Nair inherits a team whose morale is at its lowest ebb. The players-coach row had forced a few players to take leave and play for other clubs. The team also didn’t play in any competition last year. The performance hit a nadir when KSEB, short on fitness and match practice, struggled against lowly teams in the Thiruvananthapuram District football league and finished fourth.

Things were different three years ago when KSEB, with promising youngsters like Anilkumar, Ramesh, Joby and Girish, gave SBT and Titanium a run for its money in the State league.

Renewed hope

When KSEB authorities sidelined the football squad and strengthened the basketball and volleyball teams recently, there were speculations that the team was on the verge of being scrapped. The appointment of a new coach has put that doubts to rest and players are looking forward for a fresh lease of life after being assured that the team will take part in competitions regularly.

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