Bruno Coutinho, the legendary Indian footballer, thanked PR Solution and Narayan Goswami, the MLA of Ashok Nagar constituency, for taking such initiative and conducting the exhibition football match for the flood victims in Bengal scheduled to be held on Saturday, 30th November.

The 55-year-old diminutive striker and Arjuna Awardee who has been the director of coaching at the Sports Authority of Goa for the last two decades spoke to The Parallel Sports on a couple of issues on Friday before flying for Kolkata. 

About the ‘Match for Bengal’:

 I took part in a similar exhibition match a couple of years ago in Goa. That time it was organized for the flood-affected people of Kerala. I thank the organizers for taking the initiative to stage the Match for Bengal for the flood-affected people in Bengal. Natural calamity cannot be predicted and we also become unaware of shock. So, being footballers what else we can do by standing beside them in this way? 

On Indian football’s latest misery:

It is sad to watch that the senior men's national team have not been able to win a single match this year so far. I feel once Manolo's contract with FC Goa ends and he dedicates full-time to the men's national team things will change. The senior national team must have a full-time coach.

On the development of Indian football and ISL:

Now ISL is called the top tier of Indian football. The national team is made up of the maximum number of footballers from this League. I believe the ISL franchises should run residential coaching schools and groom local talents after proper scouting. The renowned football clubs across the world develop their football in this way. If ISL franchises invest in their academies after grooming and scientifically training the local kids that could benefit Indian football in the future.

On another exhibition match:

Another exhibition match between Salgaocar Legends and Dempo Legends is going to take place on 27th December in Goa. I am feeling excited that after a long time, I will be meeting some of my teammates who have settled in the USA.

About post-retirement desire:

I have still five years left to retire from my job. As one of the government employees, I cannot execute any other project. So, after retirement, I have a desire to introduce 'Bruno Football Academy'. But I need to accumulate funds to run such a football school.