He would like to go to Kolkata

Defender IGOR HRABÁČ studies India like never before

Twenty-eight-year-old Igor Hrabáč is a native of Banská Bystrica and a product of the local Dukla. At sixteen he moved to Sparta Prague, where he spent two years in the youth team and another year in the reserves before returning to Slovakia, where he played for Trenčín, Rimavská Sobota, later in the Czech Republic for Sokolov, and last season for Dunajská Streda. The tall centre-back is now facing a new challenge.

Studying India more than school... “That’s right! As soon as I found out there was such a possibility, I started looking up things about India, browsing websites. Of course, I wanted to know what it was all about. It’s interesting. It will be a big tournament, new clubs,” says the 187 cm tall defender.

Not everyone finds India interesting. “For me, yes, even as a tourist destination. But I see this mainly as an exciting football challenge.” For now, the Slovak defender is not planning to travel to Kolkata, where the draft will take place – personal presence at the draft is not necessary.

Igor Hrabáč already has one experience with Asia, even before his management connection with Jozef Tokos. “Well, maybe Asia is meant for me after all… In Vietnam five years ago it didn’t quite work out. Everything was agreed, I was only supposed to come and sign the contract. In Saigon I ended up spending two months without even kicking a ball, nothing came to fruition.”

Now things could turn out differently, partly because the Banská Bystrica native has made it into a prestigious list. Igor Hrabáč knows his competition in the draft. “I looked at it, it’s interesting. But it seems to me that most of those on the list will get drafted. Each team can have four foreigners, which makes twenty-four players across six clubs. Do I believe it will work out for me? I’d say 90 percent yes. I leave ten percent as a backup… It has happened to me a few times that something which looked almost certain eventually fell through. But I’m an optimist.”

The Slovak footballer has even picked out a club that – if it were up to him – he would “draft” himself into. “I like Kolkata. That’s where I’d really go,” smiles the tall player, accompanied by his girlfriend Marianna. “She’s not discouraging me, although she was quite surprised when I told her about it. But she’s also tuned to the same wavelength in football, she understands,” adds Igor Hrabáč.