Srinagar Feb 07: A celebrated former English Premier League player Gifton Noel has replaced Mehraj ud Din Wadoo as the coach of the Real Kashmir FC after streak of below par performances in the ongoing I League.
Ral Kashmir FC has a brilliant start under Wadoo to the season, but once they suffered first defeat at home in December, the club went winless away from home and are currently eight matches without a win.
As per sources Mehraj ud Din Wadoo wasn’t sacked but instead handed over his resignation to the club management. Sources said that Real Kashmir FC management wanted Wadoo to continue but the former India International opted to leave.
Meanwhile after around two months, the Hero I-League matches will again be played in Srinagar with Real Kashmir Football Club (RKFC) taking on Sudeva Delhi FC tomorrow at the Synthetic Turf TRC Srinagar.
Newly appointed RKFC head coach Gifton Noel Williams said the team is well prepared to play and win Wednesday’s game. “We want players to play good football and enjoy it. We want to win this game and get three points,” he said.
Asked whether his approach will be different from the previous coach, he replied, “Yes approach will be quite different. I have a different experience. Even after losing previous games, the team is not under pressure as the team has a new coach. It is now a new era and new philosophy. I want to see a smile on players’ faces and enjoy it. I hope players will give their 100 percent and play hard to win this game and bring three points.”
The RKFC head coach said there would be few changes in the team tomorrow. “but I don’t want to change everything,” he said.
About his message to RKFC fans here, he said, “They should come out and make noise tomorrow. I guarantee them our players will give their 100 percent.”
Sudeva Delhi FC head coach Sankarlal Chakraborty said it will be quite difficult to defeat the RKFC on home ground. “We have played four games in 10 days and our players are tired. The weather is also an advantage for the RKFC. But I hope we do something positive tomorrow,” he added.
The high-flying Snow Leopards had a solid start to the season, with four victories on home ground and one win on away ground. However, for the last around two months, the RKFC suffered five defeats and is now on 7th position on points table. While Sudeva Delhi FC is on 12th position.
Who is Gifton Ruben?
The coach who has replaced Mehraj ud Di Wadoo , full name Gifton Ruben Elisha Noel-Williams is a celebrated former English footballer who has played for Watford, Stoke and Burnley among other clubs in Premier League. After a serious knee injury in 1999, he was affected by rheumatoid arthritis for much of the rest of his career.
He retired from professional football in 2010 and moved into coaching, briefly managing Burnham in 2016 and Codicote in 2017. Till recently he was interim manager of Watford Women. Having played at highest level , Gifton Ruben is a top signing for a club like Real Kashmir.