Vipul Kane conducted an interview for IndianFootball.Com with Churchill Brothers SC coach Karim Bencherifa ahead of the restart of the 11th National League.
The Moroccan has earned a name for himself in India with strong displays by his young but talented squad.
There was a lot known about him and his football philosophies.

First of all congratulation Karim on your recent success with Churchill Brothers!

Thank you!

Football is a big sport in your country Morocco. Tell us something about your professional career?

Yes, it is a big sport and i did play in the Moroccan League but there comes a time when you have got to make a choice between sports and studies. I also had two operations on my knee so injuries did not help either, so I got into the University of Sports in Morocco.

Everybody following Indian football will know you. You have transformed Churchill Brothers from a bunch of talented youngsters to match winners, fighters and more. How did you manage this?

We have basically put a lot of time and energy into our work. I believe that if you work you get results. Hard work pays-off. Many of our players were not known but through their performances in games they have been highlighted.
I always keep a small gap between myself and the players, but try to motivate them whenever I can and I then try to be close to them, everything that we do is together as you know, team spirit is the main thing!
Look at Greece in Euro 2004 for instance.

Amongst the things you do, you specially huddle together.

Yes, we do all sorts of things to improve the bonding, I don't really believe in individual talent. It is the team that wins and the team that loses.

You have been to various countries, amongst them Singapore, but tell me is the ranking of India, currently 157th, justified according to you?

The ranking system is not 100% correct, but more or less from what I have seen it seems correct. When I see the teams, perhaps yes. We must look for more leagues, like in Morocco for instance there are 10 regional leagues for a population of 20 million, other than the main leagues.
Also infrastructure and youth development plays an important role. Look at France, the French young players play in almost every big league in the world.
In India the only good academy is TFA (Tata Football Academy). For a big country like India is one academy enough? We certainly need many more! More regional academies and at least 8-10 good academies on top of them.

Even top clubs across the world have academies.

Yes every club needs to have an institution like an Academy.
For me three things are important - the coaches training, infrastructure and youth formation. For me coaching is like medicine. You keep on developing techniques. The golden age to teach is 14-16.

Do you think after seeing football administration in numerous countries that the AIFF is doing enough?

Perhaps I am not in a position to comment on this. But to tell you something, the resources in India are massive and at any stage you would feel that not enough is being done.

So lets get a bit lighter. Do you have a favourite club? A favourite player?

For me the team that I coach is my favourite!
But since you have asked I like the total football of Arsenal London and my favourite player is Cesc Fabregas, who is a playmaker with eyes all around his head.

Your aim obviously is to win the NFL, but any higher motives?

My ambition, my aim is that you always follow. We have been invited to play in the Singapore Cup but are waiting for permission from the AIFF.
And yes our players require exposure, so we plan to take them outside India because there is lots of scope for improvement.

Now Karim tell me about your hobbies?

Golf, Internet, Travel. I am lucky that I have a job that I get to travel. India is my 25th country!

Anything you would like to say about IndianFootball.Com?

Yes. I have accessed the site. I always look for updates on it.
I hope it becomes more informative!

Thanks Karim for your precious time and best of luck for your away game against Air-India!