MARGAO
One of the country's most successful footballers, former India winger Clifford Miranda has won many hats in his footballing career. He has added yet another feather to his much decorated cap as he debuted as the assistant coach of FC Goa Development side against Salgaocar FC in the AWES Cup football tournament at Duler stadium, Mapusa.
Miranda began his new assignment after leaving the Churchill Brothers Sports Club. He is confident that his new team will perform to its potential under head coach Derrick Pereira and leave a mark in the Goa Pro League. FC Goa have launched their preparation and the former Dempo midfielder was monitoring his wards at Chowgule College Artificial Turf ground from close quarters under instructions from Pereira.
Miranda believes in hard work and being active on the ground is his passion. "I played for Dempo Sports Club when the team won the maiden National Football League in 2005. I was also the member of the Dempo team that won three I-League titles in 2007-08, 2009-10, 2011-12," he said. Miranda, who donned India colours from 2005 to 2014, also piled his trade for Minerva Academy FC, Mumbai FC and Churchill Brothers. He served for a long time in the I-League and also played in Indian Super League, turning out for FC Goa and Atletico de Kolkata in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
"Having played for so long, I know what efforts it takes to come to the top. It will be my endeavour now to motivate the players to give their best," Miranda stated. "I am very excited to start this new chapter in my career after the wonderful rewards on the pitch.
"Football has given me so much. It's important that the players who have had the rewards in the game pass on their knowledge. I also have much more to learn about the business of coaching and the best place for me do that is this new assignment. It's an incredibly positive working environment and the goal is to impart coaching acumen to the players," he added.
Miranda was grateful to ‘Derrick Sir' and FC Goa management for selecting him as the assistant coach with many other strong contenders in the fray. "I want to thank my head coach for encouraging me to join FC Goa. I am very much impressed with his coaching methods," he said. "Derick Pereira has a rich expirience in coaching, where you can work on tactics and fitness.""Coaching has undergone a sea change now and one must adpot new strategies when imparting coaching. I am confident under the tutleage of Derrick, FC Goa Development team will put up an impressive showing in the Pro League," signed off Miranda, who has answered AFC ‘A' Licence test.
