In a bid to power through to the I-League — the second-tier tournament in the Indian football ecosystem — Malad-based I-League 2 club Mighty Young Joe – Goalorious Mothers SC have hired former Blue Tigers skipper Climax Lawrence as their new Technical Director.
Lawrence, who is also a part of the AIFF Executive and Technical Committee, is excited at the prospect of this new challenge. “I joined MYJ because I believe in the club’s vision and ambition. It’s an exciting opportunity for me, since I haven’t done this role before. But I believe I can bring in the kind of structure to help the club be successful in the long run,” Lawrence, who won 72 caps for India, told mid-day.
The former midfielder will oversee not just the senior men’s team but also the women’s side and the U-21 team. He will focus particularly on building a strong team identity and youth development.
“My aim is to bring a strong playing identity to all our teams. As a coach I preferred to play a possession-based style and rely on the flanks for crosses into the box. But I will not impose that here. I will sit with the coaches and discuss what our style of football should be. Off the field, I want to instil a culture of discipline where the players strive to improve every day,” explained Lawrence.
However, he urged fans to be patient when it comes to their ultimate goal of competing in the I-League — they narrowly escaped relegation on the last day of the previous I-League 2 season, thanks to a 1-1 draw with SC Bengaluru United.
“Our most important [long-term] objective is getting to the I-League, but fans will have to be patient. However, for this season, a realistic goal is to win the Mumbai Premier League [MYJ finished runners-up last season]. Only by winning multiple local competitions will we continue to improve and reach our main target,” Lawrence signed off.
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