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What’s in a Book, goes the age-old adage.
National Coach Stephen Constantine smiles. ‘From Delhi to Den,’ published by deCoubertin Books scheduled to be released soon is the National Coach’s autobiography and about his experience of coaching 6 National Teams in 5 countries including two stints in India.
“Not to forget the Club teams in England, Greece and Cyprus,” Constantine reminds.
“It’s about my struggle. I understand that most have a different perception about me as they do not really know me.
The book is an initiative to give an insight and assess my Coaching instincts. After reading it, maybe they will start looking at me in a different manner,” Constantine leans back on his armchair and smiles again.
“The book was inevitable and it’s an irony that it’s happened during my second stint in India when the Team is doing well. I have to say that India has been both good for me and my family and lucky for me in my career, along with the support of everyone at the AIFF,” the National Coach says in one breath.
‘Where does India feature in the book?’
“There are two chapters on India including the two icons – Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri featuring on the cover with 8 other Players whom I have coached some time or the other,” Constantine informs. “It’s only fitting that India was featured prominently in the book.”
‘From Delhi to Den,’ is full of anecdotes from Constantine’s stint as a Coach including the following lines where he speaks about India’s win over Afghanistan in the SAFF Suzuki Cup Final in January 2015.
“On the day of the final, I saw two or three Afghan players lounging by the pool two hours before kick-off. If I wasn’t wound up enough, I also heard they booked the hotel’s restaurant to celebrate their win. ‘This is what they think of you,’ I said in my team talk. ‘They are already celebrating.’
More than 40,000 fans filled the stadium. The atmosphere was fantastic. In September, I wasn’t bothered by the SAFF Championship, but now I was desperate to win. The players deserved it. The fans deserved it. And I couldn’t have the Afghans’ party keeping me up all night.”
“It’s interesting. It’s Football. It’s the fight on and off the field. It’s direct and there is no beating around the bush as Football has no place for it,” Constantine asserts.
The release is expected to be around late July 2017.
