Playing in India goes beyond my contract: Carlos

The Brazilians have come here for the development of Indian football and not just to honour their contracts, insisted the legendary Roberto Carlos, who is marquee player of the ISL franchise Delhi Dynamos FC.

Carlos, who was here at an ASSOCHAM event overseeing the agreement signed between BRICS Football cup and Delhi Dynamos to be their sixth official football team partner, said that he did follow the ISL last year and could see the talent in the Indian players. Though he believes that the players still have to develop a lot.

“I want the national squad of Indian football team to get the benefit out of it. I believe within one or two years Indian players will witness an evolution like never before. Our goal will be to make sure that the players play for win. You’ll see the same with Delhi Dynamos this year.

“There are 18, and including me, 19 players from Brazil who’ll be playing in the Indian Super league. We are here for a reason, and the reason is not limited to our contract. We are here for development of football in India,” said Carlos.

On asking the quadragenarian about how serious is his finger injury and whether he’ll limit his role to coaching alone in the ISL. The otherwise shy player was quick to reply, and said, “The injury is on my hand and not on feet. I am here to play and will give my best both as a player and a coach.”

The event also witnessed a formal agreement between BRICS Football cup and Nivia sports, who will be the official supplier of the ball.

Delhi Dynamos president Prashant Agarwal also present on the occasion talking on the partnership with BRICS Football Cup said, “The partnership will not only promote better football interaction among BRICS youths but will also bring together people from different cultures.”

The agreements were signed in the presence of Ambassador of Brazil in India H.E Tovar da Silva Nunes, who sees the BRICS Football Cup as “going to streets and let people know what BRICS is“.

Others present in the event were Nikhil Sawhney, Chairman of ASSOCHAM National Council on Sports & Sports Infrastructure and Kushal Das, General Secretary All India Football Federation (AIFF).

The BRICS Football Cup is an under 17 tournament that will be played between the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations. The first edition will be played in India in April 2016. The tournament will take place once every year.

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Indian players in ISL will be released for WC qualifier: AIFF

All India Football Federation on Monday made it clear that all the national team players who are in the Indian Super League sides will be released on time for the two 2018 World Cup qualifier matches to be played next month.

India take Turkmenistan on October 8 and Oman on October 13, both away matches, and AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das said that all the players who are with the ISL teams will be released four days prior to the first match.

“The reports that national teams players in the ISL will not be released for two World Cup qualifiers next month are completely wrong. All of them will be released four days — inclusive of the match day — prior to the first match. This is under FIFA rules,” Das told PTI.

“So, the players will join the national team on the morning of October 5 and continue to be with the team till the second match on October 13. There was no confusion on that as this was decided by the AIFF and the ISL long back,” he said.

Almost all the national team players who took the field against Iran on September 8 are in the ISL teams. The second edition of the ISL begins on October 3 in Chennai.

India plays Guam on November 12 in a home match and then takes on Iran on March 24 (away match) and March 29 (home match).

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‘Moura is a good, tactical player’

Regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, Zico, in an email interview to the The Hindu, talks about former Flamengo captain and tactically-sound Leo Moura, his foreign recruits and the offer from Manchester United.  

We learnt that you were asked to pick either Juan Roman Riquelme or Lucio as Goa’s marquee player. Your choice was Lucio. Why?

No one told me about Riquelme. I would have liked him (Riquelme) may be some years back.

Tell us about your go-to man in the midfield, Leo Moura

He is a very good player. Very tactical. He plays on the right wing, not much of a striker. Good passes and good crosses. Sometimes he scores too.

Most of your foreign recruits are past their prime. Do you think you can still implement your attacking principles?

All of them have been playing. Leo Moura has been playing. Reinaldo did not play today (Monday), but he might play in the first game. Victor Simoes had a surgery and has recovered. Lucio was playing in Palmeiras. So all the players can adapt to the club’s philosophy.

You have worked in many countries. Are you confident that they will back your candidature for the FIFA presidency?

I don’t want to answer this question. I want to talk only about FC Goa.

 Is it true that you were offered a role to assist Alex Ferguson at Manchester United?

They (Manchester United representatives) spoke with me in Brazil some years back, but I did not know if it was true or not. I would have accepted it with all pleasure [if I had been convinced].