Mumbai City FC player Nicolas Anelka and coach Peter Reid. Photos: Official Facebook page of Mumbai City FCKochi: Peter Reid is right now has the unenviable task of planting hooves on a wild elephant. This is the same bloke who once tried to bell the Maradona cat. Given his infinite patience, the wild elephant might actually get to wear its hooves. In any case, European football scene has its gaze trained on India. All eyes will be on the moves of Peter Reid the coach. Both the wild elephant and its mahout are in Kochi on Wednesday. Wanna see them both, welcome to Kaloor stadium!
Former England star Peter Reid is the coach of ISL team Mumbai City FC. Nicolas Anelka is the wild elephant that he is in the process of taming. Anelka is a towering personality who donned the World Cup colours for France. But then, he goes amok every now and then. He gores his teammates and trainers. He ruins the festival. The football world is curiously observing how Peter Reid comes to tame someone like Anelka. The focus of that observation shifts to Kochi on Wednesday.
Anelka is no hooligan. He is familiar to football-loving Malayalis who watch various European football leagues on TV. But we have not seen his wild side much. Let us hope that ISL does not get to witness them. Despite creating enough troubles in the past, Anelka is a picture of good behaviour after landing in India. Coach Reid has wonderfully handled this mischievous kid so far.
Reid is no small fry. We all have seen his game on TV in those days. Remember the 1986 World Cup, when Argentina rattled sabers with England? Remember how Maradona scored the loveliest of goals in the history of the World Cup final round following his ‘Hand of God’ goal? That day when he charged with the ball from his own half, Peter Reid’s rein it was that Maradona tore asunder. Reid had given Maradona the chase for a few paces. He was withdrawing when Butcher and Chris Waddle took up the fight. But eventually they too shouldered arms as the victory was Maradona’s. An interesting aside: In 1985, Peter Reid was fourth behind Michael Platini, Praben Elkjaer Larsen (Denmark) and Diego Maradona in World Player Rating.
Peter Reid later became coach. He taught the game to Manchester City, Southampton, Sunderland, Leeds United and Coventry teams. He tamed many a hothead. It must be on the strength of that that he is now taming Anelka.
There is good news for Kerala Blasters even in the midst of anxiety from not scoring goals. Missing in action from the Mumbai City side will be three front liners – Fredrik Ljungberg, Andre Moritz and Syed Rahim Nabi. The only concern now is the likelihood of rain.
Tuesday evening Kochi experienced lightning and showers. Rain is not a deterrent for the game, but it cannot be held when there is lightning. Kickoff is at 7 PM at Kaloor stadium.
Kerala Blasters' Iain Hume giving autographs to students of Choice School, Tripunithura after a training session. Photo: Official Facebook page of Kerala BlastersBlasters are at sixth place with eight points from seven games including two home matches. Mumbai is at fourth place with ten points from seven games. A win on Wednesday will enable Blasters to climb to fourth place with eleven points. This third home match is also an opportunity to make up for the loss Blasters suffered in the match at Mumbai.
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