Owen Coyle: Narender Gahlot and Amarjit Singh Kiyam are huge assets

The Briton spoke about his ambitions for the Men of Steel in his first media briefing as head coach.

Jamshedpur FC officially announced that Owen Coyle will be the club’s new head coach. Sandy Stewart has been roped in as the assistant coach too. Khel Now had previously confirmed the appointment a few days ago. This declaration was made in an online press conference arranged by the Men of Steel this afternoon. The media briefing was attended by Chanakya Chaudhary and Mukul Choudhari, who are the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Jamshedpur FC respectively. Farzan Heerjee, who is the Chief of Sports at Tata Steel was also part of the panel.

The new head coach made his intentions clear right from the onset. Jamshedpur FC are a club that has some promising young Indian players in their ranks. Coyle mentioned, “It's going to be a huge challenge. Young Indian players are hugely important. We have to stand together. I'll make sure that when they speak about ISL, they speak about Jamshedpur FC. I want to bring success to this wonderful club.”

The club’s CEO, Mukul Choudhari, was at the forefront of identifying a new tactician for the club. The team from Jharkhand had finished in seventh spot in the league table last season. They have been unable to qualify for the playoffs even once in their last three seasons in the Indian Super League. Speaking on the reason that prompted him to opt for the former Bristol City tactician as their new head coach, Choudhari remarked, “I couldn't see anybody better than him and that's why he is here.”

Chaudhary reiterated his colleague's stance. He asserted that it was a fairly easy decision to make considering his credentials and vast experience in the sport. The Chairman commented, “He has proven credentials and shares the ambitions of the club, which was evident in our fruitful discussions. He is known to bring out the best in experienced players as well as younger ones, while inculcating a winning mentality. This made his appointment an easy decision.”

Coyle had visited the JRD Tata Sports Complex in his first game at the helm of Chennaiyin FC. That match had concluded in a 1-1 draw, but the head coach seems to have been impressed with the facilities and infrastructure that he witnessed there. “I was surprised not only by the stadium but also the playing field. It was as good as anywhere I have ever seen. I got to see the training ground, their playing facilities and hospitality. It struck a chord with me,” the 54-year-old recalled.

The former Burnley manager further heaped praise on the club’s organization and fundamentals. He stressed that the amenities that they possessed were on-par with the European level. “Jamshedpur has a tremendous football legacy. The club has all the right things in place, starting with its vision and translating into a robust foundation of grassroots, youth, Tata Football Academy and required infrastructure such as fantastic training and accommodation facilities, at par with some of those in Europe,” Owen Coyle mentioned.

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Jamshedpur FC had secured the services of prolific striker Sergio Castel from Atletico Madrid "B" last season. However, with Castel’s spell concluding, they will have to look for a similarly efficient forward. Owen Coyle confirmed that they are actively in the search of someone who can lead the line. The head coach observed, “We're looking at all areas. The most important factor at the end of the day is to score goals. We are working very hard to secure a good goalscorer. I am very excited to play with Indian players. They are so hard working.”

The former Blackburn Rovers manager worked with quite a few young Indian players like Anirudh Thapa and Jerry Lalrinzuala, Lallianzuala Chhangte during his tenure with Chennaiyin FC. These individuals formed an integral core of the side and were critical to the team’s spectacular comeback in the previous campaign.

Regarding the starlets at Jamshedpur FC, he observed, “They just need to believe in their coach. I always tell my players, if you train hard enough, if you work hard enough, you will get opportunities. They have a great attitude to excel. If they keep showing these qualities, they will do very well.”

He was also asked about the players from Jamshedpur FC that caught his attention in the 2019-20 campaign. Coyle’s answer was unsurprising. He stated, “Narender Gahlot and Amarjit Singh Kiyam are a huge asset. There are some hugely talented players in the squad already and I am excited to work with them and strengthen them.”

His general demeanour, effervescent personality and the style of football that his side played made Owen Coyle a fan-favourite in Chennai. He looks set to replicate the same in Jamshedpur.

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The new man at the helm sent out an encouraging message to the fans. He expressed, “I am very conscious of the passion and support you have for the team. I love it! My aim is to put together a winning squad on the field that enjoys, wins and puts a smile on your face. A team that plays good football, represents the fans and makes them proud.”

It was reported recently that Jamshedpur FC will announce their squad this month. They are said to have been working on finalizing deals for Indian players, whilst also meticulously selecting their international stars.

Mukul Choudhari stated that a busy few days await the club, as they are set to make more announcements soon. He asserted, “It will be announced as we go along. In a few days, we will make a lot of announcements. We'll have to take an informed call on the pre-season matches and venues, as there are quarantine protocols to follow,” he concluded.