The success of the Indian Women’s Team is high on the Federation’s list of priorities, and as per the objectives in Vision 2047, we have begun the process of maximising the International windows in order for our players to play more competitive matches. The-aiff.com is present at the Senior and U-20 Women’s National camps in Chennai to deliver a series of stories about the best women footballers from our land.

Sruti Chakraborty
AIFF Media Team

CHENNAI: Maymol Rocky was a distinguished footballer during her playing days and represented India with considerable success. Later, when she turned to coaching, Maymol turned out to be having all the qualities necessary to become a modern-day trainer. No wonder she was quickly elevated to the post of National Coach, the first woman coach in India to do so, and she demonstrated her abilities within no time.

Under Maymol, India won the 2019 SAFF Women’s Championship with an impressive record of winning all four games, scoring 18 goals and conceding just one. Maymol’s wards are also the reigning champions of the South Asian Games. Her best moment, though, came in November 2018, when the Indian women’s national team created history by making it through to the second round of the Olympic qualifiers for the first time.

After four eventful years at the top, Maymol stepped down in 2021 due to personal reasons. However, she has now made a comeback, and has been given charge of managing the training camps of two teams simultaneously at Chennai -- The India U-20 Women, who are preparing for their upcoming SAFF U-20 Championship scheduled in Dhaka, Bangladesh, from February 3-9, 2023, and the Senior National Women’s Team, who are preparing for the Olympic Qualifiers, which will take place in April.

In a frank conversation with www.the-aiff.com, Maymol discussed at length her return to the National Team, the task of dealing with both teams at the same time, and the way forward for women’s football in India.

Excerpts: 

Q: Coach, now that you have returned to the national camp after two years, how is it going for you? 

Maymol: I will start by saying that yes, it's really a pleasure to be back with the national team and in camp. I think the girls are doing great.

Q: You are looking after both the Senior and the Junior teams at the same time. Do you find it tough to manage?

Maymol: Well, not really. I had handled the senior team earlier and knew most of the girls in the camp. The U-20s are a young squad, and with Swedish coach Thomas (Dennerby) around to put in a lot of effort, I feel great to be here and know the girls. Overall, it’s great teamwork. After all, it’s the national team, and all the staff members are working hard to make the girls feel more comfortable on and off the pitch.

Q: Vision 2047 was recently launched. And women's football has been given a lot of attention in it. What are your thoughts on it?

Maymol: Vision 2047 is a great project. Women’s football should always be given the right opportunity and that's exactly what the Federation is doing now. I think the girls are benefitting a lot from attending camps, playing tournaments, and going for exposure tours. I am confident it will have a huge effect on the future of the girls.

Q: So, how's the preparation going for the upcoming SAFF U-20 Women's Championship?

Maymol: The girls are working hard, and the staff is doing their job. And we are really looking forward to the tournament. 

Q: What are your expectations from this championship ahead?

Maymol: Every coach and every team wants to win the championship. So, we are no different here. We are working hard to achieve the target.

Q: The girls will be facing Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan. What do you make of your opponents?

Maymol: I'll say that we respect all our opponents. After all, Bangladesh are the hosts, and they should be a strong side. Nepal and Bhutan must be preparing hard, and we have respect for them. But on matchday, we will go all out and give our best – it doesn’t matter who the rivals are.

Q: In the camp, there are nine players from Jharkhand. Do these players have any specific qualities?

Maymol: Of course. Earlier, there were so many girls lined up from Manipur, but now, with time, we are fortunate to get players from different parts of the country. The Jharkhand girls are tough by nature and always go all out to give their best. Good players from states like Gujarat are also coming up. It’s really good to be with the girls when they give their hundred per cent on the pitch.

Q: In the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the girls got good exposure against teams like the USA, Brazil and Morocco. Do you think this has made the players more confident?

Maymol: Of course, there is no doubt about it. Playing against top countries in a big tournament is always a booster for the girls. I think it was great for the girls. And yes, I’ll say women’s football in India has grown a lot since I was part of the national team as a player and when I became a coach. There are a lot of things happening, and it’s going to be a big step ahead for the women's game.

 Q: What's your message to the girls? 

Maymol: I want the girls to give their hundred per cent. They have to. And I think if we play as a team, we will surely come back smiling from Dhaka. We are all waiting for that.