Bhowmik returns to practice after resignation ‘drama’

One of the few good things in Indian football — in the midst of the general mediocrity — has been the performance of Kolkata club ...

One of the few good things in Indian football — in the midst of the general mediocrity — has been the performance of Kolkata club East Bengal. And the major architect of that success has been coach Subhash Bhowmik. So reports that he wanted to quit after the club’s ouster from the AFC Cup came as a surprise.

But as things stand at the moment, the club has refused to accept his resignation and are trying to convince him to stay on.

The sequence of events goes thus: EB were beaten 0-3 (in Amman) by Syrian club Al-Jaish in the quarter-finals after the first leg finished at 0-0 in Kolkata; Bhowmik submitted his resignation to club officials in Amman, which was later rejected by club secretary Kalyan Majumdar who has asked Bhowmik to carry on.

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When contacted, Bhowmik told The Indian Express, ‘‘I thought we should have at least reached the final. That was my dream. It would have changed Indian football completely. I failed in my mission. My principles tell me that I should quit.’’

According to Bhowmik — seconded by club official Swapan Bal — the club is currently negotiating with Bhowmik to stay on and at least finish his contract that runs till the end of the current season. ‘‘But I am trying to tell them that they should try and get someone else who can help the club realise the dream,’’ Bhowmik says.

For his part, Bal says, ‘‘Subhash babu has resumed practicing with the team and everything is normal. His contract will be renewed like every year for a long, long time.”

Bal further stated, ‘‘The club lost mainly because we have had a lot of injuries in recent times, including that of Bhaichung Bhutia. That is the main reason for the loss.’’

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But Bhowmik contends: ‘‘If you want to look for excuses, you can go on doing it all your life. There are times when you have to accept responsibility.’’

Insiders in Kolkata, however, say that the whole thing was basically a naatak, the sort of thing that is acted out in Kolkata football every once in a way. Whatever the truth, things appear sorted out and India’s premier club can look forward to more from their coach.

Bhowmik as national coach?

It has still not crossed the rumour stage, but chances are that Subhash Bhowmik will be considered for the post of Indian national team coach after Stephen Constantine’s tenure runs out in November this year. Though no official announcement has been made yet to confirm it, Constantine is under notice following the national team’s dismal performances in recent outings. Bhowmik’s success with East Bengal makes him a logical contender and rumours are rife in Kolkata that he might be in line for the big job.