Raman Vijayan has achieved something most football coaches can only dream of.

The former Indian striker from Tamil Nadu has guided BEML to the Bangalore District Football Association (BDFA) super division title in his first full season as coach. Incidentally, it was BEML’s maiden title as well.

“This was my first year as a professional coach and I am delighted to have begun my campaign with a league title.

I am indebted to team’s HR head P. Murugasen for helping me with this opportunity. It was a challenge for both of us and we are delighted in scripting a tale of success,” said Vijayan.

The triumph, however, didn’t come easy for Vijayan’s boys. After the on-field death of Bangalore Mars FC’s striker D. Venkatesh in a Division ‘A’ match on March 22, the BDFA league was postponed.

The delay meant Raman lost three foreign players from his arsenal. “It was a big blow as we had pinned a lot of hope on the three Nigerians. After posting a win and a draw, we received a wakeup call when we lost our third game against HAL.

At that point, the calculation was simple — win the remaining seven matches. It was a colossal effort by the team to go out and execute the plan to a T,” said Vijayan.

So what did the coach tell his charges that resulted in the team chalking up seven straight wins? “I just told them to play with freedom. I told them if they worked sincerely towards their goal, nobody could stop them,” recalled Vijayan.

Vijayan, who showered praise on the entire BEML unit, picked striker Stephen as the standout performer.

“Our attacking was brilliant. Stephen supplied 11 of the 26 goals we scored to emerge as the top-scorer in the league,” said the former East Bengal player.

The young coach treated the Bengaluru audience with vintage stuff by getting his boots on against HAL. Recalling the moment, Vijayan said: “A handful of yellow cards and potential injury threats prompted me to get in. I wanted to help the team in whatever way I could.”

Having turned out for Indian Bank in the CFA senior division league in the mid 90s, Vijayan knows about Chennai’s league thoroughly. He hit the bull’s-eye while comparing the two leagues.

“In Bengaluru, teams train throughout the year and play in a lot of tournaments all over India. Sadly, it’s not the case in Chennai.

Except for two or three teams, the rest don’t even practise together for a substantial period. So the quality or the lack of it is clearly evident in the CFA league.

Tamil Nadu boys need a lot more exposure and, for that, the administrators need to revamp the entire structure,” he said.

Vijayan’s next assignment is a big one. He has been appointed the head coach of the recently formed I-League II division team South United Football Club. “There are a lot of expectations from us and I am confident that we will deliver.

I am most impressed with the team management’s blueprint. They are not trying to jump into the top division of the I-League in the next year itself.

It’s a long-term plan and SUFC want to become one of the top teams in the country,” added Raman. “A large chunk of the SUFC’s squad is drawn from the KGF Academy (BEML).

We have also roped in a handful of U-19 Indian players. Two players (striker Subash and playmaker Solaimalai) from my academy — Noble FC in Chidambaram — have also been picked.”

‘Santosh heroes need recognition’

Raman Vijayan is upset that the Tamil Nadu team haven’t been honoured yet for reaching the final of the Santosh Trophy in May. The TFA has announced a felicitation on September 16 but the quantum of cash awards is not known.

“The TFA should honour our heroes in a befitting manner. For me, it was the biggest achievement by a Tamil Nadu football team filled with youngsters without much experience.

Qualifying for the final itself was a success and hats off to the young guns for the way they fought back in the final. What else do you want from the players?

How will they get motivated if their achievement is not recognised immediately? And how do you expect to market the game with this kind of treatment? Sabir and his boys need a pat on their backs for their marvellous achievement,” fumed Vijayan.