Kolkata: Right here’s a stat: In 4 seasons as head coach within the Indian Ladies’s League (IWL), the worst efficiency for Anthony Andrews has been a second-place end. Right here’s one other: With an 85% win document, Andrews is probably the most profitable girls’s workforce coach within the prime flight in India. Not dangerous for somebody who can be 30 subsequent January and began teaching as a aspect hustle.
East Bengal FC head coach Anthony Andrews is probably the most profitable girls’s workforce coach within the prime flight in India. (Emami East Bengal FC)
“Age should not be a problem for any coach,” Andrews advised HT after his third IWL title, this time with East Bengal. “You get respect for what you do on the pitch. If that is helping the players, you have earned their respect.”
It’s evident Andrews has, at East Bengal. A membership official advised HT that as they overhauled the roster with India internationals (Ashalata Devi, Soumya Guguloth, Anju Tamang, Panthoi Chanu and Sandhiya Ranganathan) and international gamers, a few of them mentioned they had been signing as a result of he was coach. Explains why East Bengal paid Gokulam Kerala to get Andrews who had a 12 months on his contract there.
Put that to Andrews and he mentioned: “I think we have built that trust. And the players know how I work. And everybody wants to win.”
Win East Bengal did and in some fashion. That they had a 100% document at residence and dropped solely 5 factors within the eight-team, 14-match competitors on approach to their first IWL title. It was additionally some turnaround for the 104-year-old membership who had completed sixth amongst seven groups in 2023-24.
“The competition was good – HOPS who were relegated, beat Gokulam Kerala and the table changed – but we had players who had previously won. They passed on the experience to the new players,” mentioned Andrews.
This title gave Andrews validation. “The pressure was on me to prove a point. The mental toll was so heavy that you start to doubt yourself. That too after having proved yourself,” he mentioned.
Andrews was referring to the All India Soccer Federation (AIFF) appointing him head coach after which eradicating him earlier than he may be a part of as a result of various India gamers wrote to the federation asking for Thomas Dennerby proceed until the Olympic qualifiers.
“In two years, I have not spoken about it. But I’ll tell you this: no human being should be made to go through what I did. I had thought of quitting. The federation did what it had to do and I have nothing against anybody but I will tell them this: do not disrespect an Indian coach unless you have seen them work.”
Let’s not speak about this, Andrews says once more, lifting his cap and placing it again once more as his gamers enter the banquet corridor the place we’re sat for his or her pre-training night snack. “But I felt more pressure to prove myself. I think I have. Missing the IWL title by two points last season and winning it this time.”
Has he requested the gamers about their letter? “No. Don’t want to either. But they have asked me to join the national team.” For now, his consideration is on East Bengal, the Kanyashri Cup they play for the Kolkata league starting this week, the Asian Ladies’s Champions League and giving “200% to defend the IWL title.”
Andrews has an AFC A licence, the second highest teaching badge within the continent. What started as a approach to increase earnings due to an anterior cruciate ligament harm on the fitting leg when he was 19 is now a career. “I was paid per session for working with toddlers in Mumbai’s Premier India Football Academy (PIFA). Initially, it was just for the money.
“It helped me have surgery but then I had another ACL injury on the same leg and it was then that I started coaching seriously.” From PIFA, to Minerva Punjab’s youth workforce to golf equipment in Gujarat and Karnataka, Andrews was ploughing alongside when Gokulam Kerala got here up with a proposal.
Working with the ladies’s workforce wanted preparation, Andrews mentioned. “I spoke to people, read up all I could and spent five-six months to prepare. The player management aspect becomes more important because their mental and physical abilities can be under stress during the menstrual cycle.”
It takes time to construct that belief, to get gamers to open up about this, mentioned Andrews. “I think I am fortunate to have grown up among sisters.”
The primary to start out video evaluation at East Bengal, Andrews and his employees of eight keep a Google calendar on the squad’s menstrual cycles. “Our players understand talking about it is for their benefit. It helps us find solutions in deciding on training load for that player and how she can be used on match day if at all.”