Few days back, an advertisement about the third death anniversary of a person in ‘The Herald’ caught my attention and I write this article to pay tribute to the former Dempo and India coach whose love for Goa and Goan football is well documented. The news of his death on 12th June, 2007 surprised Goan football lovers, as I am sure, not many people were aware that the once famous and successful coach of Dempo SC had, after retirement. preferred to spend the rest of his life in one of the most beautiful places in Goa-the Divar Island.
In the late seventies and eighties, Robert Allison Bootland, was the one of the best coaches seen in the football arena. His success in coaching took him to several top clubs in India and in between the AIFF too rewarded him for the good work by appointing him as a National coach. He is reported to have introduced the 4-3-3 system which was eventually played by all the top clubs in India in the eighties. But what made him more successful was not only because of the system but his ‘No Nonsense’ attitude which many a times caused friction between him, the Clubs he coached and also the All India Football Federation. Even though he coached several clubs, he will always be remembered as a Dempo coach for his success with the club.
As a former player of Salgaocar, Tata and Dempo SC in the eighties, I came across several coaches here in Goa and Mumbai with clubs, state and also during camps conducted for Indian selections. Every coach has some thing special to offer. Bob Bootland believed in hard work and laid great emphasis on fitness. His training sessions were never boring as he always came well planned for the day’s work. For pre-season fitness training he made best use of Miramar beach given the fact that we didn’t have good grounds to train during rains. Distance- cross country running was another of his favorite work out. He would make us run a distance of about 7 to 8 kms from Santa Cruz-Caranzalem-Miramar to Campal. We enjoyed the run as the entire stretch those days was full of greenery, unlike today.
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Bootland’s philosophy in life reflected in what he would say to us during our team talks. He would say “Efforts and Hard work put on by players is akin to somebody investing in a bank. First you must deposit and then you can withdraw with interest”. He gave a damn for reputation of players when they were found to be complacent. He would very often tell us about how in England a professional player never takes his place for granted and can’t afford to make mistakes repeatedly, as there is always someone on the sidelines to occupy his place. Once off the field he was a fatherly figure and would encourage, advice and address players individually by saying “Good luck son”.
Bootland was a foreigner from Newcastle, England but preferred to live and die in Goa as he not only loved his Goan wife but loved Goa as well. He came as a tourist in India in 1977 but ended up being more than just a tourist. He could have gone back to England for a better life but still preferred to stay back in Goa. In the end, I would simply say that he was a foreigner but had a Heart of a Goan. He along with Mr Shanmugam of Salgaocar Sports Club took Goan Clubs to great heights. No wonder then that Goa won almost everything that was up for grabs in India Football in the eighties, due to the efforts of these two great coaches.
May his Soul rest in Peace.
