- Maradona of Indian Football

(cntd.)

Interviewed by 

Sanjeeb Mukherjee

  "It is really unfortunate that we missed gaining an entry into the second round of World Cup qualifiers by just one point. On the whole I feel I feel very optimistic but we need more help from the right corners."

In school you excelled in many sports why did you only choose football?

In my school days I played cricket and hockey, but football was my passion right from childhood. When I was staying in a hostel at Tashi Namgyal Academy in Sikkim I used to skip studies to play football, sometimes even late in the night. Soccer is a very big thing in Sikkim. We have a major annual tournament called the Governor’s Cup, which I would wait all year to see it. Besides, my elder brother was a good footballer and he was instrumental in getting me so interested in the game.

In a place like Sikkim is it hard to get the right sort of environment where you can nurture your talents?

Not really. As long as you are ready to slog it out it is as hard or as easy as in any other place. The only difference can be technology. For example, when I started playing, we didn’t have a television in our village, so I used to travel to Gangtok just to watch my heroes play in the World Cup. I was really fascinated by Maradona and he is still my hero.

You played for East Bengal for three years wherein you rose to become one of  their most famous players, why did you change your club to JCT Mills Phagwara?

I chose JCT Mills, because East Bengal was playing too many matches and I was involved in all of them. I was also playing in the Santosh Trophy as well as in the National Squad. It was a classic case of overkill. I didn’t want to burn out so I changed to JCT as it had a good team and gave me an excellent contract. The club had great ambitions which materialized to some part when it won the First National Football League.

It is said that you were bought back by East Bengal for an astronomical sum. What was the exact amount you were paid?

They paid me a substantial amount and apart from money in India it is always a privilege to play for East Bengal or Mohun Bagan.

As captain of the National Squad what do you feel are the reasons for the low standards of football in this country?

I feel the onus should be on the federations and clubs to raise the standards of Indian football, right from arranging sponsors to giving proper training to players. We have very talented players, but federations and clubs should be more professional in their working.

Are there any specific areas where you feel more work should be done?

Yes, I feel we should lay more emphasis on grassroots level, there should be proper infrastructure for the youngsters, they should be exposed to international competitions from an early age and more importantly their training should be of highest standard. If we take these steps I feel we can achieve international status.

Are we physically capable of sustaining a 90-minute game in the same way as foreign players do?

Earlier it was said that Indians cannot physically match European or South American players because of their slender physiques. But the Chinese and Koreans have disproved this theory and despite their small frames they are excellent players. So, without bothering too much about our built we should concentrate on fitness and look at our positive sides.

Are foreign coaches an answer to the ills effecting Indian football?

Foreign coaches can be helpful because they bring with them new ideas and different styles, but they should understand Indian conditions and should not try and impose European standards. Above all, I think everything will slowly fall into place if clubs and federations imbibe professionalism in their approach to the game which is now missing.

What are the reasons for the declining popularity of the National Football League?

The National Football League is definitely a good idea as it raises competition level among clubs. I don’t think in the past few years there has been any dent in its popularity only that it has not been marketed well. Also, the media exposure is very limited for football which makes people unaware of the standard in National Football League.

What future do you see for Indian football?

The future is definitely bright. We have some very good players like Deepak Mondal and Sukumar. The present National Team is perhaps the best that we had for a long time. It is really unfortunate that we missed gaining an entry into the second round of World Cup qualifiers by just one point. On the whole I feel I feel very optimistic but we need more help from the right corners.

Can you tell us about the injury you suffered in England which has kept you out for nearly the whole season?

I had a micro-fracture operation to repair my torn cartilage. This is my first major injury in my whole career. It occurred when I was sandwiched between two very tall English players and got a hard knock. It has kept me out of the game for a long time.

When are you going to return to professional football?

My healing process has been very good and I expect to return to the field very soon. I’m itching to get my first shot at the ball after such a long break.

Finally, your own future plans--Are you planning to stay in England for one more season or would you be coming back to India?

Let’s see how it goes. After F.C. Bury releases me my agents will be looking for some other club in England. I’m even talking to some clubs in Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines but nothing has been finalised yet. If nothing happens there I can still come back to India and play for my old clubs.

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