BHUBANESWAR 04-Sep-2009 103
Strong relationship between and a coach and a sportspersons can work wonders. This has been proved true by former India women football captain Sradhanjali Samantaray and her coach Nanda Kishore Patnaik. Working together for 14 years, the duo has converted women’s football in Orissa from a non-descript to a front-line sport and inspiring plethora of little girls take to and excel in it.
During mid-nineties when the sport was struggling due to absence of a coach, former junior National footballer Patnaik emerged as a savior even though he had little experience in coaching. But his job became easier when Chhabi (nick name of Sradhanjali) joined him in 1995. ``Her devotion, dedication and discipline set an ideal example for others to follow and excel in the game,’’ recalls Patnaik.
``She was very obedient and never failed to follow my instructions. She had complete confidence on me and depended on me more than her parents. So much so that she used to take my permission even before going to market. Her love and dedication for the game compelled me to make some sacrifices and take care of her needs. And I became the happiest man on earth when Chhabi was chosen to play for the country,’’ adds the self-styled coach.
Patnaik admits that Sradhanjali has also done much for him personally. ``Now people recognise and respect me as the coach of Sradhanjali. Chhabi used her salary as a Nalco employee to meet my son’s engineering education and contributed in buying a car for me,’’ he discloses.
Reciprocating the compliment, Sradhanjali says that without the guidance and sacrifice of the coach she would not have come thus far. ``Tutu bhai (Patnaik) not only imparted coaching, he did everything for me and that too without expecting any return. When I became immobile after a major knee injury, it was his care which enabled me play again. His only expectation was that I should play better,’’ reminisces Sradhanjali, who has played around 30 international matches so far.
Sradhanjali is not the only success story of Patnaik. He has also groomed many more internationals including Ranjita Mohanty, Prasanti Pradhan, Sudipta Dash, Sarita Jayanti Behera, Mamali Das and Prathama Priyadarshini. An auditor in the office of the Accountant General of Orissa, Patnaik also continues to spend from his salary and provident fund to help poor and orphan girls play football. And Sradhanjali too continues to play the game with the same dedication and discipline even with a battered body and at the age of 31.
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PHOTO: Sradhanjali Samantaray and Nanda Kishore Patnaik at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on Sept 4, 2009.
