Sudeep Pakrashi:
Yan Law had offers from a few other prominent clubs for this season. Still, the 32-year-old youngest A-licensed football coach who was with Delhi FC last season decided to return to Kolkata after five years, mainly because of the CFL Premier League and simultaneously, due to the long-term development program United Kolkata Sports Club (UKSC) management revealed to him.
Yan left Kolkata after guiding Mohammedan Sporting in 2020. While speaking to Parallel Sports, the coach explained, “I have been part of different state leagues across the country. Even I worked as a coach in the Leagues in Nepal and Bhutan. Kolkata Premier League has been the most challenging.”
He continued, “When I left Kolkata, I was only 27 years old. Now I am more mature and learned a lot of things in the last five years. So, working with a debutant in the CFL Premier Division will be a challenge for me also to re-establish myself as a coach in Kolkata.”
Despite being a debutant in the CFL Premier Division this season, UKSC won the CFL First Division in their introductory season last year and has built up a formidable side to compete in the League. Former Indian international footballers like Nongdamba Naorem, and Narayan Das, then experienced footballers like Prgyan Gogoi, Amit Tudu, Abhilas Pal, and Tuhin Sikdar have been roped in.
But that was not the key reason behind Yan Law’s joining the team. Rather he has been impressed by the club’s passion and vision for the future development of the game.
“The club has built up modern infrastructure. The footballers are not only receiving worthy amounts of payments but they have been provided proper amenities and facilities. Second and the most important thing I found was the club’s long-term vision for the future development program through introducing the academy. It is another major reason behind deciding to return to Kolkata, added Law.
