This could be Karim Bencharifa’s finest year. He guided the lesser fancied Salgaocar FC to the I-League title four months ago.

If Armando Colaco’s negotiations with the All India Football Federation about a five-year contract reach an impasse, then Karim is strongly tipped to take over as national coach. Salgaocar have stormed into the semi-finals of the 33rd Federation Cup football tournament and are favoured to win the title.

If Salgaocar win then Karim will become the first foreign coach to have won this prestigious tournament with two different clubs. In 2008, Karim was Mohun Bagan’s coach when they beat Dempo 1-0 in the final.

Indian coaches who have achieved this feat are P.K. Banerjee (Mohun Bagan 1978, East Bengal 1980, 1985 and 1997), Amal Dutta (East Bengal 1978 and Mohun Bagan 1998), Syed Nayeemuddin (Mohammedan Sporting 1983, 84 and Mohun Bagan 1993) and Subrata Bhattacharya (Mohun Bagan 2001 and East Bengal 2007).

What makes Karim tick? He is a pragmatic coach and understands the Indian psyche. He is also one of the few foreign coaches who believe it is the responsibility of the clubs to develop local talent, to improve India’s standard.

His track record is impressive. When he was with Churchill Brothers he developed Gourmangi Singh, Vashum, Naoba Singh and Robert Lalthlamuana.

During his stint with Bagan from 2008-2010, Karim transformed Rakesh Masih from a rugged defender to a useful defensive midfielder. Masih became a fine utility player and earned the national colours.

With Salgaocar, Karim has also been very productive, effectively grooming talented juniors Gilberto Oliveira, Anthony Barbosa and Francis Fernandez into dashing wingers. By gradually nurturing them in matches this trio has become an asset to the club and helped in their success in the I-League and impressive run in the Federation Cup.

They provide width to the team and help Salgaocar effectively play in a flexible 4-2-3-1 formation. The wingers fall back when Salgaocar are under pressure, so that the system becomes 4-4-1-1 and they can defend in depth.

The free role that Karim has given to the skilful Japanese attacking midfielder Ryuji Sueoka is also impressive. Karim knows how to extract the maximum from his players. Above all he is a hands-on coach, involved in all aspects of the club, including designing the playing kit. He has shown that a foreign coach who understands the capabilities of Indian players will be successful.

In contrast Steve Darby, the English coach of Mohun Bagan tried revolutionary formations in the ongoing Federation Cup, with disastrous consequences.

Darby made Bagan play in the 3-5-2 formation, which is unusual for Indian players. The defence got exposed against the speedy attacks by Royal Wahingdoh and Shillong Lajong. Bagan had one of their worst campaigns in the Federation Cup, losing two matches and drawing one and finishing at the bottom of their group.

Darby has impressive credentials, assistant coach of Thailand under Bryan Robson. After the debacle he has realised that Bagan’s squad is imbalanced. Though assembled at an astronomical cost of `13 crores Bagan lack speedy players. He has to now develop a formation which suits his players, like Karim has done.