Nayeem shocked, still waiting for official word

Kolkata, Mar 9 (UNI) With the All India Football Federation (AIFF) not bothering to convey their decision of sacking him from the national coach's post, Syed Nayeemuddin is a shocked man still waiting for an official word.

''I have not received any official intimation as yet. But if it's done it will be shocking,'' he told UNI.

''I am a soldier and want Indian soccer at its glorious best and I will continue to think and try in those terms,'' he added.

AIFF, however, said in its release that the support team was being 'reorganised'' and it would approach FIFA and AFC for a foreign coach.

Also getting the axe were manager P K Banerjee, assistant coach Gabriel Joseph and goal-keeping coach Atanu Bhattacharya.

India's dismal performance in the first two Asian Cup qualifying matches had prompted the Federation to look for a foreign coach after the team conceded nine goals, six in the away match against Japan and three against Yemen in Delhi, to shut out their chances for a AFC Asia Cup main round berth.

AIFF secretary Alberto Colaco, while talking to UNI, refrained from using the word ''sacking'' as he vowed to usher in the winds of change.

'' This is the last ditched effort to reorganise the technical team of our national squad for the preparation of the Asian Games in December. We evaluated the performance of the technical staff and found it not satisfactory, '' Mr Colaco said.

Ever since India got the beating in the Asian Cup matches, there was an outcry to remove the coaching staff with some players even joining in the chorus.

The training method of Nayeemuddin reportedly came in for criticism from some of the top players of the country. The coach, in turn, had reportedly asked for code of conduct for the players only to see the demand being quashed.

Nayeem was appointed national coach last year and guided India to SAFF Cup glory. But after the disastrous Asia Cup campaign his bad days began as the soccer federation continued with its policy of chop and change.

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