BLURB
Sammy Omollo, who had coached Tusker FC to the Kenya Premier League (KPL) title a few seasons ago will become the first foreign assistant in recent history to an Indian coach. Such was the Tusker's performance under Sammy’s tutelage in 2011, that he went on to be named the ‘best coach of the year’ in two different categories - Footballer of the Year Awards (FOYA) and the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) ceremonies
AGENCIES
NEW DELHI
Sammy Omollo, the venerated Kenyan international who along with Chima Okerie is regarded as amongst the best to have starred for both Kolkata giants, has joined East Bengal's coaching staff to assist Biswajit Bhattacharya.
Sammy, who had coached Tusker FC to the Kenya Premier League (KPL) title a few seasons ago will become the first foreign assistant in recent history to an Indian coach. Such was the Tusker's performance under Sammy’s tutelage in 2011, that he went on to be named the ‘best coach of the year’ in two different categories - Footballer of the Year Awards (FOYA) and the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) ceremonies.
His recruitment means that the Red and Gold have four former players, namely Biswajit, Debjit Ghosh, Sanjay Majhi and Omollo in the dugout.
Ralte out for six weeks
However, the feel-good factor was soured by Lalrindika Ralte's ankle injury sustained during practice, which has ruled him out of action for the next six weeks.
The Mizoram player, who had spent a lengthy spell out on the sidelines last season, suffered yet another injury on his right ankle during a practice match at Kalyani. After the MRI, it was revealed that the midfielder has received another jolt to his old wound.
"The new one is just above where he got injured last season. We plastered it for four weeks. He may then take another couple of weeks to recover," Shanti Ranjan Dasgupta, the assistant secretary of the club informed on Saturday.
This means that Ralte will in all likelihood not play in the Calcutta Football League (CFL) this year and his presence for Mumbai City FC's pre-season for the Indian Super League (ISL) stint from the onset remains doubtful.
East Bengal are having their residential pre-season training camp in Kalyani. Do Dong Hyun scored a brace while Tanmoy Kundu who has joined the outfit from Tollygunge Agragami, also scored a stunner in a practice game between the players.
