Armando Colaco, I-League’s most successful coach, has come out in praise of Mohun Bagan’s Kibu Vicuna’s game reading and man management skills.

“First of all, I would like to congratulate Mohun Bagan for winning the league. The coach has done a remarkable job by winning the I-League with four matches remaining, thereby emulating Dempo SC’s feat in 2009-2010 season.

“Bagan coach’s match reading has been very good throughout the league. I liked some of his decisions during the matches. I am also fond of his man-management skills,” Colaco, under whose coaching Dempo won five national league titles (two National Football League and three I-League), told The Telegraph.

Bagan thus equalled Dempo in terms of winning most numbers of national championship titles — five (two NFL and three I-League).

“He had three Spanish players, one high profile Senegalese, one from Trinidad and Tobago and one from Tajikistan besides the Indian players. It is not easy to handle everybody efficiently but he did that,” Colaco said.

The Goan thinks Vicuna was very clear about his tactics and target.

Jubilant Mohun Bagan supporters after their team's victory at Kalyani Sourced by the Telegraph online

“They were very consistent from the beginning of the league. They didn’t have a winning start, they lost to Churchill Brothers in the second game, yet they remained focused, played with the same flair, and once they got the momentum, they never looked back. They were consistent almost throughout the league,” Colaco explained.

He also thinks the bonding between the players played an important role in their emerging champions. “The understanding between their foreigners and Indian players was awesome and that is also one of the main reasons for their success,” the 66-year coach, who currently is in charge of Sesa Football Academy, said.

Bagan’s playing style impressed him the most. “Bagan played passing football, which not only helped them to have better ball possession but also put pressure on the opponents.

“I always like the passing game, I tried that during my days with Dempo SC and we also got results,” Colaco, under whose coaching Dempo finished runners-up thrice in the National League, said. “It does not look good if you play aerial game without any clear intentions.”

The senior coach, though has one complaint about the I-League. He thinks the number of foreign players should be decreased from five to three.

“One thing I didn’t like was the increase in the number of foreign players in the playing XI. Foreigners are playing in all important positions, they are hogging the limelight.

“I am not against foreign players and good quality players are always welcome. They would help our football develop. But the number should be restricted to three in the playing XI.”