Dempo boss undecided over Colaco's release

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has roped in Colaco, who is associated with Dempo, to replace Houghton and is awaiting a green signal from his club to release him before the executive committee meeting in New Delhi on Friday.

“It’s an honour for Dempo that Armando is being considered for the India job. Personally, I am happy for him as well. But I am in two minds to release him as he is not only a coach but also a secretary of his team. It’s a tough call to make as there are two major factors which needs to be handled,” he said.

“At first, there is this coaching issue but since it’s a lean season and Mauricio Afonso is as good as anyone else, there should not be a problem on the coaching front,” Dempo said.

Major concern
“My major concern, though is on the secretarial front. Armando is not just a coach for us but also plays an important role of club secretary.

“There is so much to do liaising with the AIFF, attending to daily matters, besides we also need to take our alliance with (Danish Club) FC Midtjylland forward,” he said adding that a decision on releasing Colaco would be taken only on the day of the executive meeting.
Former Indian coach Bob Houghton had resigned after a bitter row with AIFF.

Football federation had charged the Englishman with racially abusing a referee and summoned him for a disciplinary meeting. Though the AIFF later cleared Houghton of any wrongdoing, the Englishman chose to resign from his post as national coach.