PANJIM: “I am humbled. There were many others who could have been bestowed with the award and recognition. It comes to me as a great surprise and at the same it is a big honour that the AIFF has selected me with the ‘Best Coach of the Year award,’ remarked coach Clifford Miranda.
“It came to me as a total surprise. I accept it in all humility. I feel there were others more deserving than me. It is a very gratifying feeling. I dedicate it to all the football players and lovers in India and especially Goa, my birth place, where I have been given the baptism in football and have grown as a football player first and then as a coach,” reflected Clifford.
“I owe it to the football players, clubs, officials, fans and so many others. More so, I attribute it to the players, staff, management and the top brass of Odisha FC, for having reposed the faith on me and appointing me as the interim head coach of Odisha FC. It is the players who gave the first trophy to Odisha FC. The victory is all down to the players. It would not have been possible without them. It is the players who responded when it mattered the most and it is all to them,” recalled Clifford. “I dedicate the accolade to the players,” stressed the coach.
It may be recalled that Clifford, who hung up his international career boots in 2017, presented the first-ever silverware to Odisha FC in season 2022-23. It is to the credit of Clifford that he became the first Indian coach to win the Super Cup. It was a momentous achievement. Thereafter, Clifford also guided Odisha FC to qualify for the AFC Cup Group stage for the first time in the history of Odisha FC with a win over Gokulam Kerala in the crucial play-off.
Clifford was offered an elevated position with Odisha FC before he parted ways with the club after a fabulous year so as to embark on a new journey. His dedication, understanding and passion for the game were something to be admired at. It is his exceptional coaching abilities that had had a profound impact on the players and the overall development of the team. And it is exactly this that has not gone unnoticed, and hence deserving the accolade.
Clifford said he was grateful to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, Executive Committee, Secretary General, eminent former players, who are also the co-opted members of the AIFF’s Executive Committee who selected and recommended the awardees, as well as the 34 Member State Associations, two affiliate members – RSPB, SSCB, observers from FIFA, AFC, IOA, FSDL for choosing to make the announcement at an appropriate Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) for all the awardees: Coach of-the-year (women) Priya PV.
Player of-the-year (women) Manisha Kalyan. Player of-the-year ( men) Lallianzuala Chhangte. Emerging player of-the year (women) Shilji Shaji Emerging player of-the-year (men) Akash Mishra.lves around an ISL
Clifford is yet to finalise about his next engagement which revolves aeound an ISL Club or I-league Clubs or AIFF for the India Under-23 team.
