India's new coach to be announced on Monday

Mumbai, May 27 (UNI) India will have a new coach on Monday, All India Football Federation president Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said here today.

''We are awaiting the arrival of a candidate from Portugal today or tomorrow. We would go through the technical committee's report after interviewing him before announcing the new coach the day after tomorrow,'' Dasmunsi told reporters here at the launch of the Super Cup tie between National Football League (NFL) champions Mahindra United and runners-up East Bengal.

The AIFF's technical committee has already interviewed Englishman Bob Houghton and Irishman Brian Kerr.

''Fully professional football league, which would replace the existing semi-professional one, is expected to see the light of the day in 2007 and that the Nehru Cup international tournament would be revived soon with financial backing from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC),'' he added.

He said there are five criterias for clubs to become fully professional which include having their own ground (at least six clubs meet this criteria). The fully professional league in 2007 could be launched or otherwise, it could be deferred,'' the AIFF president said.

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