East Bengal’s new Brazilian coach Carlos Roberto Pereira da Silva at the club tent on Friday. A Telegraph picture

Calcutta: Last December, East Bengal became the first Calcutta club to appoint a foreign coach (it’s another matter he lasted less than six months). On Friday, the red-and-golds ‘unveiled’ the first full-fledged Brazilian coach to take charge of any Indian outfit.

Carlos Roberto Pereira da Silva, fresh from guiding Boavista to the second division summit in the Rio de Janeiro league, landed in Calcutta early morning to take up his new job (a one-year contract, with a provision for extension).

Interacting with the media in the afternoon, Pereira said his knowledge of Indian football and footballers was limited to a couple of players he had seen in the 90s. “I have coached in Asian countries like Singapore, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, but don’t know much about Indian football. I do remember seeing a couple of Indian players when I was coaching in Qatar, they were quite good.”

Why did he leave Brazil and take up an assignment in India? “I have coached outside Brazil quite a bit. Also, the standard in India is not very high, so it’s a big challenge coaching in such a country. I spoke to my wife when the offer came before agreeing to take it up,” said the much-travelled coach.

“The coach’s job is in the field, guiding the footballers, it doesn’t matter which country he is working in,” added the 60-year-old. He didn’t have an interpreter, though he did struggle to pick up some of the questions thrown at him.

He said it will take him one or two weeks to get a hang of the East Bengal team. “I will first need to talk to my assistants (Bikash Panji and Tarun Dey, who were next to him) and maybe see some videos before getting an idea about how to shape the future,” said Pereira, adding that his target was to make East Bengal the “champions.”

The Brazilian’s personal preference is the 4-4-2 system, but won’t mind any other formation which the team may be more comfortable in. “There may not be players suitable for 4-4-2, in that case I’ll have no problem guiding them in whatever system they are accustomed to,” said Pereira.

Tarun, who has been appointed manager (technical), pledged full support to the Brazilian and even said he was eager to “learn” from Pereira.

The team’s first session with the new coach will be on Saturday morning.

PEREIRA FACT-BOX

NAME: Carlos Roberto Pereira da Silva

AGE: 60 years

COACHING EXPERIENCE

IN BRAZIL: Madumira EC coach (1970, 1974-78); CR Vasco da Gama coach (1970-74); Rio de Janeiro Selection coach (1975); Desportiva Ferroviara coach (1975-80); Estrela head coach (1987); Rio Branco head coach (1987); AA Portuguesa (Portugal) head coach (1988); CR Vasco da Gama head coach (1989-90); Brazilian Football Academy football teacher (1994-2000); Boavista FC head coach (2004-2006)

OUTSIDE BRAZIL: Al Saad Club (Qatar) head coach (1981); Al Ain Club (UAE) coach (1982-86); Mayer FC head coach (1991-94); Singapore national coach (1996-98); Al Nasser Club (Saudi Arabia) head coach (2002-2004)