AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: All India Football Federation thanked Colm Joseph Toal for his contribution to Indian Football as the Head Coach, Youth Development, ended his contract with AIFF on April 30, 2014. Toal who first joined AIFF in 2007 served a seven-year stint with various age-group Teams.

AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das mentioned about “Colm’s tremendous service” to Indian Football.

“Colm Toal is a wonderful professional and a human being and has given tremendous service for the development of the Indian Youth Teams during his seven-year stint in India,” he told www.the-aiff.com.

“Recognising the need for Youth Development, Colm was brought in by AIFF and he has successfully delivered most of the expectations of the AIFF. I wish him all the best for all his future endeavours,” he added.

Colm stated that he has been “incredibly lucky” for being in India for over seven and a half years.

“In today’s Football environment, that is something to be proud of. The AIFF can take great credit for the support and encouragement they have given me. I hope our Coaches presently in place will receive the same support in the future,” he told www.the-aiff.com prior to his departure.

Colm has guided two batches of India U-16 to the Final Phase of the AFC Qualifiers during his contract in India. Besides, he was also in charge of the India U-19 National Teams and the AIFF Elite Academy based in Goa.

AIFF Technical Director Robert Baan maintained Colm’s influence over “Youth Players” have been immense. “He introducing a talent pool and a detailed competition schedule to give these talents the so needed quality match experiences,” Baan told www.the-aif.com. “He also gave talented Indian Coaches the chance to develop their teaching skills on a high level of Youth Training and Coaching by having them as his support staff.”

Referring to Colm’s seven-year stint, Baan opined: “It’s almost a World Record for a Youth Coach to be in a position as Coach of various National Youth Teams.”

“It proves that AIFF and Colm had built a close relation – a relation which was based on the trust the AIFF had on Colm dealing with young talents under very difficult circumstances. He built a foundation from which Football in India will profit for many years to come,” Baan commented.

Reflecting on his professional relationship with Colm, Scott O’Donell, Technical Director, AIFF Academies, also the Director Coach Education, said “it has been a pleasure working with Colm over the last few years in India.”

“Colm is a complete professional who takes his work very seriously and has been a huge influence on the Players and Coaches that have worked with him over the last 7 years. The level of respect and regard that the Coaches and Players have for him is a testament to his professionalism and dedication to the work he has been doing in India,” he pronounced.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked with Colm over the last two and a half years and wish him all the very best for the future.

National Coach Wim Koevermans reflected on Colm’s “knowledge about International Football.”

“As a person Colm has been a true gentleman with a lot of knowledge about International Football. In the times that we have met we spoke about Football a lot. He meant a great deal to all who worked under him. He played a huge role in development of Young Players and their transition into International Football,” Koevermans told www.the-aiff.com.

“I need to thank him very much and wish him all the best for his new job.”