The Indian men’s football team is in a state of transition. Following a string of poor results under Manolo Marquez, the All India Football Federation hit the reset button and handed over the reins to Khalid Jamil on August 1 — the first Indian manager that the Blue Tigers have had in 13 years. However, a coach cannot work his magic by himself, he needs a team of trusted sidekicks, and one of them is Manuel D’Souza, the team’s Strength and Conditioning (S&C) Coach.

‘Once-in-a-lifetime chance’

“I was overjoyed when the coach [Jamil] called and said, ‘I want you in my backroom staff,’ because I felt it doesn’t get bigger than this. I’m very thankful to Sohfit HQ [gymnasium], whom I am on contract with, that they didn’t stand in my way and instead allowed me to take up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” D’Souza, 34, a resident of Bandra’s Chapel Road, told mid-day.

Team India’s S&C Coach Manuel D’Souza (left) with Head Coach Khalid Jamil