Bidhan Das Picture by S.H. Patgiri

Dibrugarh, June 30: The hunt for a coach to take charge of the Oil India Limited football team seems to be over with the directorate of sports football coach Bidhan Das all set to join the team.

Although, there was no official confirmation on the issue, sources close to the OIL team management said the formalities would be finalised within a day or two.

?It has been confirmed that he will be coaching our team for the rest of the season. We do not want to see a repeat of what happened with the Garodia Gold Cup final,? a senior OIL official said over phone from Duliajan, the company headquarters. OIL lost to a comparatively inexperienced and younger Assam State Electricity Board Sports Club 3-2 in the final.

The source also confirmed that the seven-member football advisory committee cleared the name of Bidhan Das for the job.

OIL is in close consultation with the state government, since Das will have to be released on deputation by the directorate of sports.

?This is only an official formality which we think will be completed soon,? the official added.

However, Dhruba Hazarika, director of sports, told The Telegraph in Guwahati that OIL has requested Das?s service for six months. But the directorate was not in a position to depute him unless the Assam Football Association, which had earlier sought his services to coach the state women?s team for the 33rd National Games, clears him.

?Since the preparation for the National Games assumes top priority, we cannot depute him unless the AFA declares that they do not require his services any more. If the AFA does so, we have no problem deputing him in Duliajan,? said Hazarika.

The team management is also looking for at least two recruits from Meghalaya or Mizoram into the squad.