Football legend Pele suggests name for India football coach

Brazilian football legend Pele had suggested a name for the post of India's national coach but the national federation is not rushing on this matter.
"We had received a letter suggesting the name of a particular coach for India but we already have a long-term contract with the incumbent Bob Houghton," All India Football Federation General Secretary Alberto Colaco said today.

"The letter we received mentioned that Pele had also recommended that coach for India," Colaco said.

He, however, did not mention the name of the coach nor the person who made the recommendation.

But the AIFF General Secretary did not take the recommendation very seriously.

"I do not want to comment on the credentials of the coach named in the letter. We receive applications for the post of coach everyday. In any case, we have a contract running with Bob (Houghton)," he said.

However, he said the co-operation with Brazil for the development of Indian football, which was initiated during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to that country last year, would be taken forward.

"The Brazilian President is visiting India, probably in the first week of June. There are some people coming with him who will hold discussions with AIFF President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi," Colaco said.

The Federation already has a wide-ranging Memorandum of Understanding with the Bundesliga, which entitles it to technical and financial assistance from the German league.