Dronacharya winner rues denial of coach job

The Athirampuzha-native and the national award winning rowing coach said it was after his retirement from the Indian Army in 1999 that he had applied for a job as coach at the Sports Council of India, in Thiruvananthapuram.

“But I was told by the authorities that they already had a coach and a team with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), Alappuzha.

That was in 1999. I applied a second time in 2006, which was also not accepted. In addition I applied to the Kerala police in 1999. No action was taken on that application too”, Jose Jacob said.

After failing to get a coach’s job in his home State, he was invited to Odisha by Brig K.P.Singh Dev, and Col C.P.Singh Dev in 1999, the president and secretary respectively of the All India Rowing Federation.

“I was given enough encouragement by them, and I trained the Odisha state team. The result was stunning and Odisha became champions in national tournaments for 13 years. Though I was not accepted by my home state, I am happy I was recognized outside”, Jose maintained.

Jose said he would be happy to coach a State team, but would want a permanent post. His dream is to train the Indian team for a rowing gold at the Olympics.

Recollecting his association with Athirampuzha, Jose said he was a basketball player in the beginning. When he got a job in the army in 1983, he went to Chennai and joined the Madras Engineering Training Centre as a basketball player, where he was advised by the coaches to switch over to rowing. He was sent to the camp in Pune for training in rowing.

“Till 1986 I continued in the sport, and then I got injured in a serious accident which shortened my career as a rower. By 1990, I joined as a coach and retired in 1999”, Jose said.

Jose will leave for Odisha on October 10.