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Out to achieve many goals

V. Soundararajan sees a bright future for Tamil Nadu in the game

His close crop and lean look give the impression that he has been through a rigorous phase. Yes, V. Soundararajan did go through the rigours but only to further his interest in the game of football.

A player once, a coach thereafter, Soundararajan's name has not exactly reached every football field in India. But this has not deterred the Southern Railway Chief Ticket Examiner from dreaming big. He aims to become a top coach in India. Having taken to coaching, Soundararajan decided on acquiring a diploma from NIS Patiala. The Asian Football Confederation announced the conduct of a `C' licence coaching course in India. Soundararajan's success started there and he went on to acquire a `B' licence followed by an `A' licence. Armed with these qualifications, Soundararajan got selected for the six-month AFC `Professional coaching diploma'. Besides him, only three Indians have completed it. Soundararajan today is qualified to be attached to any national team or a professional squad. In a way, his story is a bit like that of stalwart K. Sankar, the only FIFA official from India to have done duty at the World Cup. Sankar did not go far as a player — played only for Tamil Nadu — but he chased a dream of making it big as a referee. And did he succeed!

Showing steely resolve, Sankar rose to unparalleled heights and remains busy in his chosen field.

As a player, Soundararajan did not go beyond representing Indian Railways and Tamil Nadu. He had captained Railways once. His coaching stint too started with Southern Railway. But unfortunately, it was not on a positive note. In the wake of the cap on recruitment, Southern Railway slipped from the premier division in the Chennai league. Unfazed by the setback, Soundararajan, a `modern coach' now, looks ahead.

"My task first is to build up a reputation and what better than starting on home ground, by offering suggestions to my State association, " says Soundararajan.

In his view, Tamil Nadu has plenty of talent but what it lacks are awareness and support for the game. `Football Dhamaka' is a project he believes can do wonders. Through it the best eight or nine players in the various junior age groups from various districts can be brought to Chennai (as a training centre) not only to expose them to modern methods but also to project them as the `future of football in Tamil Nadu'.

Soundararajan has more plans but waits for the right opportunity to present them.

S. R. SURYANARAYAN

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