One of the most prestigious educational establishments in India, Narayana Group of Schools, West Bengal, announced the appointment of an elite coaching panel that unites well-known figures from Indian football and chess under one roof. The panel, which includes Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua as a chess coach and three legendary football players, Jose Barreto, Alvito D’Cunha, and Mehtab Hossain as football coaches, represents a turning point in the school’s quest for all-around excellence for its students.

Priyanka Mukherjee, CEO, Narayana Group of Schools, West Bengal, said, “True education, in our opinion at Narayana Group of Schools in West Bengal, extends well beyond the four walls of a classroom. It is a proud milestone for our institution and West Bengal’s educational landscape to have luminaries like Jose Barreto, Alvito D’Cunha, and Mehtab Hossain mentoring our young football players and the renowned Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua molding the minds of our chess enthusiasts. On the field, on the board, and in life, we are creating an ecosystem that produces champions”.

One of Bengal football’s greatest icons is still Jose Barreto, the legendary Brazilian striker of Mohun Bagan Super Giant and the team’s all-time top scorer with 228 goals.

Alvito D’Cunha, a renowned former India international and mainstay of East Bengal FC who played left winger for the team for 14 pivotal seasons, offers a wealth of top-flight experience and technical know-how.

Mehtab Hossain, a renowned former Indian international, contributes a wealth of football knowledge and a close bond with Bengali sports culture. “I have seen excited kids at the schools. Football helps one keep fit, and also one becomes a better individual. The kids often forget that they have to go back to their homes. They want to play football so much,” said Mehtab Hossain.

At the Narayana Group of Schools in West Bengal, their combined experience, heritage, and strong bond with football will foster a robust footballing culture and motivate the upcoming generation of gifted students.

The appointment of Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua as Chess Coach, in addition to the football coaching panel, is a significant event for both the institution and the intellectual sporting legacy of West Bengal. GM Barua, one of the first and most renowned chess grandmasters in India, is a symbol of the game whose guidance will help Narayana students develop exceptional analytical thinking, strategic discipline, and intellectual rigor—qualities that go well beyond the chessboard.

“Chess is a mind game and is a mind gym. It has been proven scientifically that if one plays chess for half an hour, the mind develops to a great extent. It not only enhances your mind but also your character as an individual,” said Dibyendu Barua.

Narayana’s core belief in each child’s holistic development is reflected in this initiative. Narayana Group of Schools, West Bengal, is dedicated to developing self-assured, well-rounded people who are capable of succeeding in all facets of life by fostering physical prowess, mental agility, teamwork, and strategic thinking in addition to academic rigor. With the appointment of this illustrious coaching panel, an exciting new chapter has begun, one in which Narayana students learn from real legends and where the seeds of future champions are sown with passion, skill, and care.

Priyanka Dutta