Path to Europe is through a strong mind, says Malouda
Dynamos star urges India players to stay put even if times are tough
Though he agrees with his Delhi Dynamos coach Roberto Carlos’ assessment that Indian footballers have improved, winger F lorent Malouda believes being successful abroad will come down to ambition.
“Playing abroad is not about having a passport,” said the 35-year-old, ahead of the match against Atletico de Kolkata here on Saturday. “The question is, does an Indian player have the ambition?”
Romeo Fer nandes was the last of the Indians to have hit foreign shores. It failed spectacularly and, starved of playing time, the wide midfielder came home. Before him, Sunil Chhetri, India’s all-time top scorer, had warmed the benches in the US and Portugal.
“You have to persist initially when you turn up in a different country. I have seen India now and the difference is in the training conditions. Training abroad is more intense and tactically different. And because it is so difficult, you will gain experience even i f you’ re not playing,” said Malouda. “Players in foreign countries come from academies. My son is 10 and trains three times a week. You have to remain patient.”
Vindicating the Frenchman is goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu — the first Indian to play for a top-division European club. Sandhu signed a three-year deal with Norway’s Stabaek in 2014 but did not make his firstteam debut until last April. However, the 23-year-old has no qualms. “The journey so far with Stabaek has been fruitful,” said Sandhu. “Being part of a top team has surely made me a much better player.”
Sandhu, the 6’5’’ shotstopper, having replaced Subrata Pal, has put i n strong perfor mances for India national team, latest coming in Thursday’s 1-0 win over Guam.