Imports Rising, Facilities Yet to Improve

The Western world may have discovered India a few centuries ago, but European players are beginning to stumble onto Indian football only now.

The 35th edition of the Federation Cup is perhaps one of the first Cups that can be labeled a truly international one. Players from 20 countries (including India) are participating in the tournament, including stars from European nations like England, Spain, Scotland and the Netherlands. Sporting’s Spanish duo Gonzalo Hinojal and Arturo Navarro, Bengaluru FC’s English defender John Johnson, Pune’s Dutch defender Riga Musthapha and Salgaocar’s Scottish forward Daryl Duffey are some big names in action in Kochi and Manjeri.

Pune FC defender Calum Angus is one of the two Englishmen in action and says his arrival in Indian football was largely due to his desire to work with Pune coach Mike Snoei. “My agent told me good things about Indian football and the improvements it was making. He also told me about Mike Snoei and how it would be a great opportunity to come to Pune FC. The coach’s CV and the club’s vision were enough for me to come down here.”

Dempo’s Aussie defender Simon Colosimo, who had a stint with Manchester City and was linked with Bayern Munich during the early part of his career, also credits his coach Arthur Papas with bringing him to India.

“I came to India 3-4 years ago as part of the FIFPro Congress. I represented the players association of Australia and met some good people here. It was in Goa and I told them maybe one day if the opportunity arises, I will come and play in India. And it happened. I did not have an agent convincing anyone. Arthur called me and we had a discussion. It is a good opportunity for something different.”

Colosimo says football authorities in India will have to upgrade existing infrastructure if they want Europe-based players to continue playing in the country.

“Players from Europe and outside expect the conditions and facilities to be a certain way. If another player from Australia or from another part of the world were to ask me about my experience, I would say I’m enjoying my football but I have to train on bad pitches and play at 3pm.  And this will put players off.  If things like this can change, then clubs will have a number of players to pick and choose from.”

While players like Samuel Eto’o and Nicolas Anelka have been enticed to join leagues in Russia and China, Colosimo says money alone will not get a top footballer to play in India.

“For professional footballers, it would be about the facilities and the opportunity to play. Having a good training pitch to play on every day, having a good GM and coach, these things matter. Until India can fix its infrastructure, a top player will not consider playing here. If you ask Didier Drogba to come and train on some of the pitches we had to train on, I don’t think he would.”