Churchill Brothers have shed the chokers tag. With three national-level titles under their belt, the Goans have finally arrived.

By Adarsh Vinay

For Churchill Brothers SC, it has always been a story of so near, yet so far. They have been a side with a lot of promise but have consistently failed to live up to expectations. But in recent years, the Goan club has finally started to deliver and is slowly stealing Kolkata's status as the Mecca of Indian football. They are running away with almost everything noteworthy in Indian football.

Founded in 1988 by Churchill Alemao, they started in Goa's third division and within three seasons made it to the top rung. A lot of Churchill's initial success was thanks to Scottish manager Danny McLennan, who led them to three straight Goa Professional League titles.

But the club disappointed at the national level and never achieved its full potential. McLennan almost led Churchill to victory in the inaugural National Football League (NFL) in 1996-97, but the club faltered on the final day losing to JCT Mills, Phagwara. McLennan was equally unlucky in cup competitions, losing in the finals of the Rovers Cup and the IFA Shield in 1997.

After McLennan's departure, the club was relegated for a season. They returned to the top flight and won the Goa League title thrice on-the-trot again. But more misery awaited them at the national level. They lost the 1999-2000 NFL, again on the final day of the season. Tied on points with Mohun Bagan, they succumbed to the Kolkata giants by a lone goal.

Another final defeat in the 2001-02 Durand Cup was followed by three mediocre seasons, eventually ending in relegation in 2004-05. But Churchill returned to the first division in 2007 after two seasons in the second tier.

The trophy drought at the top level still persisted. Moroccan coach Karim Bencherifa came agonizingly close to winning the inaugural I-League in 2007-08. The curse of the final day continued as they lost on the final day yet again, this time to Dempo. He led them to two back-to-back Durand Cup finals, winning the 2007 edition.

However in the 2008-09 season, Churchill finally broke the jinx. Serbian coach Zoran Djordjevic finally led them to the I-League title which eluded them for so long. Ironically the winner was decided on the last day of the season.

Since then the team has been going from strength to strength and yet another change in management has not seen a dip in form. Churchill have started the new season on a high, winning the IFA Shield and the Durand Cup in the space of 15 days under new Brazilian coach Carlos Pereira.

Churchill defender Gouramangi Singh is all praise for Pereira. "He is very experienced, a complete professional. He knows the game and knows how it is to be played."

Team patron Churchill Alemao is also completely satisfied with the Brazilian. "Carlos is a very simple man. We have no problems with him. The team is also very good. They are setting the level of football in India now."

East Bengal coach Subhash Bhowmick says that Pereira's experience on Indian soil with Bagan and East Bengal has made it easier for him to settle in at Churchill. An experienced team has also helped Pereira's cause.

"Churchill have quality players, who have played together for a long time, which is an advantage. They understand each other. They have won two big tournaments. That speaks for itself," pointed out Bhowmick, who is highly respected as a coach in Indian club football.

Bhowmick, who has previously coached in Goa with Salgaocar, asserts there is less pressure on a coach in Goa as compared to Kolkata. "No doubt it's easier. Not just Goa, anywhere else in the world. In Kolkata, it is an entirely different ball game. You have to answer to board members, fans, officials. Everyone expects you to win every match. They just can't take draws or defeats." Pereira, he feels, has the peace of mind, very necessary for any soccer coach.

Churchill play an attacking brand of football. They have an aggressive approach and their game is built around their star striker and captain, Odafe Onyeka Okolie. The burly Nigerian has been the league top-scorer in the last three seasons. He receives good support from Reisangmei Vashum and fellow Nigerians Felix Chimaokwu and Ogba Kalu. Rowilson Rodrigues and India international Gouramangi bring up the rear.

Even though the coach and teammates insist otherwise, Odafe often makes them look like a one-man army. Using his powerful frame, he shrugs off the diminutive Indian defenders and can withstand heavy tackles with ease. He bulldozes his way into rival defences, lunging for crosses and long balls. A good first touch and a powerful shot with both feet make him a deadly finisher.

Bhowmick feels that Churchill are lucky to have Odafe. "He is a top class player, brilliant with both feet. He is an asset to any team." Alemao agrees. Labelling Odafe as a "goal-machine", Alemao says that Nigerian "creates magic on the field", but also feels Odafe can do even better. "He is so good but he is a lazy guy. With some hard work, he could play in the World Cup."

Odafe's form will be key to Churchill's success this season as well. This was amply displayed in their two successes earlier this month, which only bodes well ahead of the start of the new league campaign.

But for coach Pereira, the two cup titles are as much a matter of personal prestige as success for the club. "People have always accused me of winning only the Calcutta league (with East Bengal in 2006 and Mohun Bagan in 2007). Now I have won two tournaments in a month. I am very happy. It feels great to get into winning ways right away." But the 63-year-old Pereira prefers to look forward instead of dwelling on past glory. "Now we need to think about the I-league and then the Federation Cup."

With the team in good form under a coach with a point to prove, Churchill will approach the start of the I-League in October with confidence. A successful title defence will prove that Churchill are not one-season wonders, and the stronghold of Indian football would genuinely have switched to Goa.