Tenth season of the Pro Kabaddi League, U Mumba has announced Gholamreza Mazandarani as their new head coach, succeeding Anil Chaprana. Under Chaprana’s leadership in the previous season, U Mumba secured the ninth position on the table with 10 wins out of 22 matches.
This marks Mazandarani’s second tenure with the Mumbai-based team, having previously held the same role in 2018. During his previous stint, U Mumba achieved an impressive second place finish on the Zone A points table, securing a spot in the Playoffs. However, Mazandarani then transitioned to the Telugu Titans for subsequent seasons, where the team faced a challenging 11th place finish, with only six victories in 22 matches.
Currently serving as the head coach of Iran’s national team for the upcoming Asian Games, Mazandarani’s coaching prowess is highlighted by his achievement of guiding Iran to an Asian Games gold medal in 2018, marking a historic win over India. A former professional freestyle wrestler and judo player, Mazandarani holds the unique distinction of leading Iran both as a captain and a coach at the Asiad, and he remains the first international coach in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League.
Joining the coaching setup at U Mumba are two notable figures from the kabaddi world: reputed Indian coach KC Suthar and Indian kabaddi legend Jeeva Kumar. Suthar boasts an impressive coaching resume, having led the Indian and Iranian national teams and secured a silver medal for Iran at the 2016 World Cup held in Ahmedabad. He also helmed the Sports Authority of India’s kabaddi team from 1986 to 2016.
Jeeva Kumar, a former player and a 2010 Asian Games gold medallist, takes on the role of a defensive coach for U Mumba. Previously part of the U Mumba family as a player from PKL 1-4, he played a pivotal role in the team’s Championship victory in 2015. Known for his exceptional skills as a Left Cover defender, Jeeva’s kabaddi journey continued as he secured his second PKL title with Dabang Delhi in Season 8. He then transitioned into a coaching role, helping the UP Yoddhas qualify for the Playoffs as an Assistant Coach.
U Mumba also welcomes Suhail Chandhok as the new CEO, further enhancing the team’s leadership and management for the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League season.
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