Chatunni has taken over Dempo Sports Club last month as a coach and the contract runs till the end of year 2000. The former India player, one of the best coaches in the land, is also one of the highly-paid in the country.

The former Kerala Police player steered Salgaocar SC from the fifth position in the Goa League to the top spot in two seasons and won the Federation Cup (1997) beating East Bengal in the final.

And in the middle of last season (1997-98), he took over from Amal Dutta as Mohun Bagan's coach, and guided the Calcutta giants to their maiden National Football League (NFL) title.

Chatunni, who is in city with Dempo for the Rovers Cup, spoke to The Indian Express.

Excerpts of an interview:

Q: What was the reason for Bagan not extending your contract?

A: The people in Calcutta want results and Igave them in four months. They had reasons to be happy. But honestly I don't know what went wrong. Till the last morning I left Calcutta, Anjan Mitra -- Bagan secretary -- called up and assured me of the dues. It's a bad dream which is over now. I think they have some big problem among them but I don't have even the faintest idea what it is all about.

Q: What assignments have you done since then?

A: I was down with jaundice for two and half months, and before joining Dempo I was conducting a coaching camp at Calicut for the Evergreen Football Club. Infact, I was about to get an assignment of coaching in a Dubai school but I found this to be an interesting and challenging. And I am here now.

Q: It seems you are in love with Goan people or Goan football....

A: Since my playing days with Vasco, I like the people and their attitude. Here players are always ready to learn and they love the game and I respect their feelings for the sport. Even before the start of the season, I was approachedby the Churchill Brothers.

Q: Taking charge of a team in the middle of a season is always difficult. Why don't you refuse or you set some conditions?

A: Coaching is similar to teaching in a school and a teacher cannot be greedy. Problems, injuries, pressures and expectations are part of football, so I have learnt to live with them. What needs consideration is the quality of players. I have managed that with Bagan, Salgoacar and I think I succeed with Dempo too. Dempo have finished third in the Goan League this season.

Q: How do you see Dempo chances in the Rovers Cup?

A: We have lost three main players during the final League match against Vasco in Goa -- strikers Marcus Carvalho and Francis Sequiera suffered leg fractures while the Brazilian mid-fielder Joao Soares has a broken elbow. Yet, I still am hopeful that we will do well.

Q: What plans do you have for the next two seasons?

A: The commendable thing about the Dempo is that we have ready second string side. The club'sunder-15 and U-19 teams practice along with senior sides which helps the younger players to learn fast. It gives unrestricted choice for the coach and makes replacements easy. I am quite optimistic about the young side.