HYDERABAD, INDIA: Sreenidi Deccan FC have, over the years, established themselves as one of the strongest contenders of the I-League, now renamed as the Indian Football League, the second-tier of the national football league system. Carlos Vaz Pinto, who had parted ways with the club after the 2023-24 season, was re-appointed as their head coach ahead of their ongoing campaign.
The Portuguese had earlier spent two fruitful seasons (from 2022 to 2024) at the Hyderabad-based club, before heading home to manage CD Mafra. In his first season in charge of the Deccan Warriors, Vaz Pinto led them to the second position of the league table, narrowly missing out on promotion into the Indian Super League (ISL).
They finished second in the table next season as well, missing out on the promotion spot to Mohammedan SC this time, after which he returned to Portugal. The club management, after a rather poor 2024-25 campaign, where they finished 9th, decided to reach out to Vaz Pinto again and re-appoint him as the head coach ahead of the 2025-26 season, with an eye on finally winning the IFL title.
To this end, Sreenidi began the season well, with a 1-0 win away from home against Diamond Harbour FC last week. Taking time out of his busy schedule, coach Vaz Pinto sat down with the India Sports Tribune for an exclusive interview, underlining his philosophy on football, his thoughts on the truncated nature of the league, and much more.
Here are some of the excerpts from our interaction:
Q. Welcome, Mr Pinto! How does it feel to be back with Sreenidi Deccan FC, especially after the good times you had in the past?
It’s like the feeling of coming home. I was very well received again. There’s a feeling of belonging. Furthermore, as you mentioned, we experienced very good moments in the two seasons I was at Sreenidi Deccan, and that amplifies this as a good feeling of returning.
Q. How are the preparations for the new season going?
With all the constraints and challenges that this season presents for all teams, we managed to have a good pre-season, without injuries or significant problems, which is very important after such a long break.
Q. How important was it to start the season with three points, especially away from home?
Winning is always important for us as Sreenidi Deccan; winning away against a high-quality opponent makes the victory even more important, and in such a short league, every point at stake is crucial. Besides all that, victories give confidence, but we know we have to be competent in every game because the league is very competitive.
Q. Would you like to say something about the truncated nature of the IFL this season? Does the shortened format give your side an advantage or a disadvantage?
It’s the only possible format that the clubs and the federation (AIFF) found to hold the competition, and I believe it will be even more competitive due to the reduced number of games, and each outing will be very crucial for the clubs.
Q. Do you feel that your players will be able to hit the ground running, especially since there is not much time to get into form this season with so few games?
I believe we are well prepared to compete, but I also know that all teams will be very competitive and all games will be decided by details.
Q. Are you happy with the recruitment the club (Sreenidi Deccan) have done so far?
I am very satisfied. We have a balanced squad, with two players per position of very similar level but with different characteristics.
Q. What are your thoughts on the overall balance of your squad? Are there some players who have caught your eye, and who you think can make a mark this season?
For me as a coach, the most important thing is the team. I want a strong collective effort from each player to achieve our goals. Every player brings in different abilities into the team but what matters the most is how the team plays collectively.
Q. Is there anything new you have implemented in training after returning to Sreenidi Deccan for your second stint? Have you tried any new concepts or ideas?
There is always knowledge updating on the part of the coaches to improve our game plan, but at the moment, I prefer not to share it.
Q. What style of football can we expect from Sreenidi Deccan this season? The fans of the club have been waiting for promotion into the ISL for a long time.
In the two seasons I was at the club, Sreenidi Deccan were always a dominant team with an offensive, yet balanced style of football. We want to play a brand of football that brings us results and makes our fans proud, as well as the state of Telangana and the city of Hyderabad, which we represent with pride.
Q. Will it be a challenge to maintain the fitness of the squad since the league is compact and there is not much turnaround time?
Yes, it will be very important for Sreenidi Deccan. There won’t be time for recovery from lengthy injuries, and this aspect will be decisive. The first phase is only 9 games, and the points gained here can be decisive in the final standings.
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