Hem Das at a coaching camp at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati. File picture

Guwahati, Oct. 16: FCI Sports Club football coach Hem Das is all smiles today, his hard work having been rewarded in the form of two of his wards — Allen Deuri and Durga Boro — making it to the Indian Super League, seen by many as a game-changer for Indian football.

Das had handpicked Allen from a playground in Noonmati for free training at Nehru Stadium back in 2001 and helped Durga get a berth in the under-17 National School Games in 2004.

He is confident the talented duo will make an impression in the high-profile event and spur more boys to take to the game.

A happy-go-lucky man who dedicated his life to coaching young footballers and never parted with his shorts (he is almost always seen in shorts), Das was like a father figure to Allen.

He even bought the little boy a pair of Nike boots when he needed one during an India under-19 camp in Goa.

“The first time I saw Allen was at a playground in Noonmati back in 2001. He was deftly juggling the ball, along with his elder brother Wilson. That’s when I noticed something special in the little boy — the ability to balance and control the ball,” Das said.

“But I had to coax his father Rose, an autorickshaw driver, to put him in my coaching camp after initial reluctance because he couldn’t afford the admission fee. I told him I would take care of everything, from free coaching to his attire,” he said.

There was no looking back for Allen thereafter.

From the under-13 to under-19 national meets, the boy left his mark. So much so that in 2009 he was the only one from the Northeast to be selected to a nine-month training camp in the US followed by a long stint in Brazil.

Durga Boro was a teenager when Das took note of him during an under-17 trial camp at Nehru Stadium in 2004. “He had the skill and striking power, traits that were taken note of at the camp. I backed his selection for the under-17 National School Games at Ashoknagar in Bengal. The meet was like a platform for him. Later, he was employed by OIL, Churchill Brothers and by Lajong last year,” the 58-year-old Das, who has also trained nearly 50 girls from a school in Rani near here, said.

Talking to this correspondent over phone from Kokrajhar this afternoon, Das sounded happy, and for more reasons than one.

“Both Durga and Allen have made it big despite coming from humble backgrounds. Their hard work has been rewarded and I am happy to have played a small role in their lives. Now, with ISL taking care of their financial needs, they can focus on their game better. Allen has a bright future while I feel Durga has at least three years of football left in him,” he said. Hours ahead of the North East United’s match against Atletico de Kolkata here this evening, Das was a tad worried for Durga who was injured in Monday’s match.

“Durga looked impressive in the match against Kerala Blasters. There was some concern over his injury but it is good that he is playing today. As for Allen, who scored a hat-trick in a warm-up match against an under-19 Lajong team recently, it might not be long when we see him play in North East United FC colours,” Das said.