Interview with former Dempo manager Armando Colaco: "Indian Football still has a long way to go"

Q: Where do you see Dempo heading after your departure?

Armando: I’m very sure that the club, the players and the new manager will surely carry on the legacy of Dempo SC. Dempo today is one of the best clubs in the country and I believe that there is surely no looking back and the new manager will surely take the team ahead and win many more silverwares for the club. I wish them all the success in the coming days.

Q: Moving away from Dempo, we also know that you had coached the national team for a brief moment. How do you analyse the development in the Indian football circuit?

Armando: Indian football is surely developing. There is no doubt about the quality that we have in the country. I believe that more and more academies should be set up so that we can tap this available talent. One TATA football academy (TFA) is not enough. I believe that every city, if not every state, should have one academy.

Q: Talking about academies, Dempo has Clifford Miranda who has come from TFA. How do you analyse the role that the academy plays in one’s career?

Armando: Setting up an academy is one thing and having good coaches who can train and develop a player is a different aspect. It is sad that India has failed on both the fronts. One, we have no good academies and two, we don’t have centres where potential coaching talent can be moulded and made into world class asset. I feel sorry to say that we still have a very long way to go.

Q: Before we let you go, we would like to know whether you will be connected to the club.

Armando: I was always a Dempo man and will continue to be so. I will definitely be in touch with the club. It’s too early for me to decide on my future. So, I cannot tell you the manner in which I’ll be in touch with Dempo. As of now, I want to spend some time with my family. It’s been very long. The club and the team was my priority all these years but now I wish to spend some time with my family before I decide my future and head in that direction.