After failing to rope in FIFA-recommended Irish coach Roy Miller, the All India Football Federation decided to put Sukhwinder in charge of the national team. This is not the first time he was considered for the top football job in the country. In 1996, too, he was AIFF's first choice but his employers, JCT, denied him permission.

Known as `Sukhi', the former international from Punjab led star-studded JCT to the title triumph in the inaugural National Football League in 1996-97. He was declared the Best Coach of the League.

The next year saw a slump in JCT's performance as the side struggled to come to terms with the depature of top stars like IM Vijayan, Bhaichung Bhutia, Jo Paul Ancheri, Carlton Chapman.

This season JCT made an impressivestart and upset many big names in the first phase of the Coca Cola National Football League. Comprising of university players from Punjab, the side is full of enthusiasm and energy. This year they did not recruit any foreigners and Sukhwinder defended the decision saying that: ``Punjab have enough talent. Its high time we recognised them and gave them a chance to prove themselves.''

Known for this unflapping temperament, most of the players in the Indian team are used to Sukhwinder's style of functioning, either when they were in JCT or when he was the assistant coach to Hungarian Josef Gelei a couple of few years back. With his non-controversial and non-interfering image, the team should not have problems that it has been complaining of off late. But `Sukhi' is a difficult task master and the only way to his heart is through brilliant football.