Panaji, Jul 9: Rafaelle Anthony Napoli has been roped in by Dempo SC as the conditioning coach for 2013-14 season.
Napoli, who is the trusted aide of Dempo's head coach Arthur Papas has left A-League job back home in Australia and settled for the rigours and challenge of Indian football.
“It's extremely important to have Rafaelle here as conditioning coach. I have the knowledge myself because of my degrees but a head coach cannot do everything. Rafaelle has such a good reputation back home, and he left Australia for a professional experience. I am delighted to have him,” said Papas, adding that Dempo players have a lot to benefit.
Napoli himself, was excited at the prospect of working in India.
“I am here purely because of Arthur. He is a good manager and his ability to improve the players is exceptional,” he said.
Papas will continue to work with the existing coaching staff and was all praise for assistant coach Mauricio Afonso.
“One of the things about a foreign coach is that you have to give something to the country that you work in. I had one foreign hand at Pailan Arrows and here, in Mauricio, we have someone who is highly respected. He has done a great job with Dempo in the past.”
“I am open with the staff. We will keep it transparent and work in the same direction,” said Papas.
