FC Goa technical director Derrick Pereira ticks all the boxes. (TOI Photo)

PANAJI: The Indian Super League (ISL) will allow Indian coaches to take charge of teams for the first time next season but strict guidelines mean not many are eligible to make the grade. Since the league's inception in 2014, franchises have relied on high-profile managers like Zico, Roberto Carlos, Marco Materazzi , Steve Coppell , David Platt and Gianluca Zambrotta to guide them, while Indian coaches were relegated to bit-roles. Now, all that is set to change.

According to a circular sent to all clubs, the organisers said an assistant coach can be appointed the head coach, if he has a Pro License, has been with the club for at least two years and on the bench for 16 matches, and has experience of managing a team in the top division. India has 14 Pro License coaches but not all of them qualify to become head coaches in the ISL.

At the moment, FC Goa technical director Derrick Pereira and Kerala Blasters FC assistant coach Thangboi Singto tick all the boxes, while Sabir Pasha, assistant coach at Chennaiyin FC for the last three seasons, does not have the experience of coaching a top-tier team. "The final approval still remains with the organisers but this is at least a new beginning," said one club official.

ISL has also made it mandatory for all clubs to have at least one Indian assistant coach on the bench. The assistant coach should either have a Pro License or be in the process of obtaining the top coaching license.

"This is a good step forward, provided clubs give Indian Pro License coaches a chance. That will boost all the A License holders. The coaches keep asking 'what's the use of obtaining licenses, if we don't get a chance to coach'. This is a chance for coaches to prove they are not far behind, provided they are mentored," said All India Football Federation 's technical director, Savio Medeira. India has 313 'A' License coaches.

Some of India's Pro License holders are employed with ISL franchises. Apart from Pasha at Chennaiyin FC, Naushad Moosa ( Bengaluru FC ), Thangboi Singto and Francisco Bruto da Costa (Kerala Blasters FC) and Derick Pereira (FC Goa) have significant roles to play at their respective clubs.

Minerva seek AIFF intervention

PANAJI: Minerva Punjab FC have asked the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to advice the Kalinga Stadium authorities to delay plans to renovate the stadium and accommodate their home games in the AFC Cup. Minerva Punjab have been left to fend for themselves after the Odisha Sports Authority cancelled their booking, claiming they need to undertake repairs immediately after the Super Cup final on May 13. Odisha is one of the prospective venues to host the U-17 FIFA Women's World Cup in 2020.

