Contrasting careers collide as Dynamos take on NorthEast

They are both 42, born just over a month apart and their professional lives have revolved around football. However, the similarities end there. Roberto Carlos went one way, Cesar Farias the other.

The former became a global superstar, winning the World Cup with Brazil, scoring that freekick against France in a friendly in 1997, and won it all in club football with Real Madrid between stints in Italy, Turkey and Russia.

Farias on the other hand never kicked a football for the big boys, with the Venezuelan’s career revolving around coaching in his national league. His most notable achievement — to lead his country to fourth place in the Copa America in 2011, the team’s best showing in South America’s biggest tournament. He may have become a national hero, but that the pairs’ paths would cross, seemed unlikely.

On Tuesday, the Brazilian’s Delhi Dynamos FC take on Farias’ NorthEast United FC in a match that will mark the midpoint of the ISL. A win for Delhi will see them climb the summit, a win for the Highlanders, will see them stay second from bottom.

With the ISL both are in uncharted territory and their past will have no bearing on the match, a train of thought that Farias seems to have taken with regard to his team’s form this season. The Venezuelan was quick to brush aside any questions on Delhi and made it clear that in a young league previous results don’t count.

“This is the time to talk about NorthEast, so we will talk about NorthEast not Dynamos,” was the response when asked about Delhi’s good form this season. “Against Dynamos, we will look to control the ball and try to keep a clean sheet,” he said in reference to their last game against Mumbai City FC which they lost 1-5.

NorthEast have shipped the most goals this season, 12, and their two wins have come at home, losing all their away games, the present then, does matter against a team high on confidence with four home games coming up.