10 August,2011 07:40 AM IST | | Agni Pandey
Former East Bengal star Julian Camino is set to return to Kolkata as assistant coach of the Argentina national team early next month for a friendly against Venezuela in the Yuva Bharati Stadium.
Camino was recruited by new coach Alejandro Sabella, who replaced Sergio Batista after Argentina's poor performance in the Copa America last month.
Former Argentina defender Camino was a sensation during his time in India and was responsible for the highest crowd recorded in a football match in Kolkata during his brief spell at East Bengal.
Camino joined the Kolkata outfit in 1988 and played under one of India's most successful coaches, PK Banerjee.u00a0The crowds loved Camino, who marshalled East Bengal's midfield on the coach's orders.
Legendary coach Banerjee was caught unaware when informed of Camino's return.u00a0"Camino is now Agentina's national assistant coach? It'su00a0 unbelievable! He was a brilliant player with tremendous footballing sense. I wish I'm able to meet him when he comesu00a0 to Kolkata," Banerjee told MiD DAY.
Suprakash Gargari, who was East Bengal's football secretary during Camino's spell at the club, said: "We bought him. But his wages were very high.
"We couldn't afford the amount through the season. After the Durand Cup, we had to let go of him due to financial constraints.
"It's really good news for Kolkata that one of its former foreign players is nowu00a0 Argentina's assistant coach."u00a0
The September 2 friendly will be both Sabella's and Camino's first assignment.
