India lured legends with adventure and money

They cannot boast a rich football history. The present does not give them much reason for pride either. Nevertheless, in just a month, the eyes of millions of football fans around the world will turn to India.

In a country that loves primarily cricket, a football revolution is brewing. India, whose national team ranks only 158th in the FIFA rankings, will be honored for several weeks by visits from legends such as Fabio Cannavaro, Robert Pires, and Hernán Crespo. Players who recently wore the jerseys of some of the most famous European clubs will play in the newly established Indian Premier League.

“I’m not coming here as a tourist. This is a new adventure for me, and I’m really looking forward to it,” Pires told L’Équipe. “I’m proud to become the first Frenchman to play in India,” added the 38-year-old world and European champion, who became one of the seven icons of the league.

The stars, whose peak performance may be behind them, but whose names every football fan knows, were attracted primarily by the money. Each team can spend up to 470,000 euros on the salary of one player. “These are nice rewards, especially considering that we will play for only a few weeks,” Pires said. The league will start on February 25, and the new champion will be known by April 8.

Although India has had a top football league since 2007, in which fourteen teams compete, football is not very popular among the locals. About 60 million Indians watch the English league every weekend, but with a population of 1.2 billion, that’s only 5 percent of the population.

The new league is expected to improve this situation. In its inaugural season, it will feature only six teams from West Bengal. “Over time, we want to expand the league to other parts of the country,” Bhaswar Goshwami, CEO of Celebrity Management Group, which oversees the league, told Reuters. He guaranteed that live broadcasts would reach the whole of Southeast Asia.

“The power of the media can significantly advance football. Stars can attract spectators. Attendance could also be huge if the infrastructure is adequate,” believes player agent Jozef Tokos. “However, the question is what the quality of the league will be. Alongside the stars, the teams will also have local players and at least six youth players under 21, according to the rules. Their performance is uncertain,” added Tokos, who will also be very interested in the upcoming draft.

In the draft, clubs will select, in addition to one of the stars, three foreign players, among whom shines the name of the only Slovak – Igor Hrabáč. “He met all the requirements to be eligible for a team – youth national team appearances, under 28 years old, and had to be a free agent,” added the manager of the tall center-back.

Seven league icons

• Fabio Cannavaro (38) – Italian world champion and 2006 Ballon d’Or winner

• Robert Pires (38) – European and world champion with France

• Maniche (35) – winner of Italian, English, and Portuguese leagues, 2004 European runner-up

• Jay-Jay Okocha (38) – one of Nigeria’s best players in history, three-time World Cup participant

• Robbie Fowler (36) – living legend of Liverpool, former England international

• Fernando Morientes (35) – long-time Real Madrid and Spanish national team player

• Hernán Crespo (36) – Argentine striker, former Chelsea and Inter Milan player

Paired with Cannavaro? I’m laughing about it for now
The 28-year-old center-back Igor Hrabáč last played in a competitive match three-quarters of a year ago. Since then, he has been without a club. “That’s why the offer from India pleased me. I wanted to go abroad anyway. Plus, exotic countries attract me,” says the native of Banská Bystrica, who last wore the jersey of Dunajská Streda.

For a European, India is a relatively unknown destination. Aren’t you worried about playing there?

“Not really. When such big names as Cannavaro, Pires, and Crespo go to India, I have nothing to fear. I see it rather as a great challenge and an opportunity to prove myself.”

How did your family react to the news of your possible move to Asia?

“My girlfriend was especially surprised. She asked if it was a lucrative deal. She had to understand above all that a footballer’s life is about taking advantage of the opportunities that come your way.”

I heard you’d most like to play in Kolkata. Why?

“I haven’t studied India in detail yet, but I looked into the cities of the six league participants. Among them, Kolkata is the largest city. It is also the most familiar to me, so I would definitely prefer it over the others.”

You already have experience with Asian football. How do you remember your adventure in Vietnam?

“Not very well. At that time I didn’t even have a manager. Everything was slow. I flew to Vietnam to sign a contract, but it wasn’t even ready. I stayed there for about a month and a half, but in the end, nothing came of the engagement.”

How would you estimate your chances of being selected by one of the teams in the draft?

“If I calculate it, each of the six clubs will draft four foreign players. That makes twenty-four players in total. So I think my chances of succeeding in the draft are quite high.”

Did the chance to play with stars like Cannavaro, Pires, and Crespo also attract you to India?

“I’ve always dreamed of playing against them. It would be even better if I could play alongside them in the same team.”

What would you say about a center-back duo of Cannavaro – Hrabáč?

“For now, I’m laughing about it. But Cannavaro has always been my role model, so I would definitely choose him.”