Falopa’s farewell wish: Derby win - If victorious, Colaco will dedicate success to the Brazilian

Coaching one of city clubs has never been an easy job. It doesn’t really matter whether it’s an Indian coach or a great who had represented the club for many years or a respected foreigner who has the experience of coaching in several countries… Even slightest failures have often resulted in ousters.

However, East Bengal have had a proud record of being a little different than the others. They have, at least in the last couple of decades, always respected the coach’s leadership and have never replaced one at the drop of a hat. Despite the pressure of fans, the East Bengal officials have never forgotten the word ‘courtesy’. It hasn’t been different this time either.

Marcos Falopa is being replaced by Armando Coalco at the helm and there are various explanations for it. While Falopa himself has cited personal reasons, including son Americo’s illness, for leaving the job, some believe that his strained relation with some of the players forced him to make the decision. But whatever may be the reason, East Bengal ensured that they parted ways with the Brazilian on a friendly note.

On Wednesday, East Bengal organised a farewell for Falopa at the club tent. Not only that, they made sure that all the players and new coach Colaco were present on the occasion. The gesture deserves to be applauded as it will enable Falopa to return to his homeland with better memories about the city, the country and its football.

Colaco, who is regarded as the most successful Indian coach with five national league titles to his name, liked a fellow coach being given the honour that he deserves. In fact, he said that it would have been better had the farewell function been bigger.

“It’s nice that East Bengal have organised such a farewell for Falopa… He is a respected coach and deserves such an honour. I would like to say that had the function been bigger, where Falopa would have been the centre of attraction, it would have been even better,” Colaco said.

It will be an acid test for Colaco first-up as East Bengal’s first match with him as the coach will be the Derby on Sunday. A victory in that game will earn Colaco the restless fans’ respect and love. But the Goan doesn’t want to run away with all the credit if East Bengal are victorious on Sunday. Rather, he would like to dedicate the success to his predecessor. “We will give our best in that match… If we win, we will dedicate the victory to Falopa,” Colaco said.

Falopa himself is pretty keen on the Derby and that’s understandable because he had prepared the team for this big match. “I will keep a tab on what is happening in the Derby… Maybe, if possible, I will watch the match on internet. I sincerely hope that East Bengal emerge victorious in this match and it turns out to be the stepping stone for bigger successes,” Falopa said.

The Brazilian also cleared the air that he has no complaints about East Bengal. “I don’t have any complaints about the club… Neither am I angry with anybody. I wish Colaco the best and hope the team really plays well under the new coach,” he said.

Falopa was given a memento, a watch and a jersey signed by all the players. He will be leaving for Brazil late on Thursday night.