SHERI GOES TO BOLLYWOOD!
From cows wandering the motorways to people running in front of trains, Teddy’s loving life in India with Keane..
It takes the unlikely boss of Indian Super League side Atletico de Kolkata 15 minutes to reach the training ground.
To say it is eventful is an understatement.
“You cannot believe what the roads are like here,” said Sheringham. “I have never seen anything like it. Do I drive a car? No chance!”
The rules of the road in the sprawling urban mass of Kolkata – population 14 million-plus – are virtually non-existent.
“In fact, I don’t think there are any rules,” said Sheringham. “You see the lot over here. Cars and motorbikes coming at you on the wrong side of the road.
“You see cows wandering on the motorways. Along the ordinary streets, even the stray dogs seem to know the rules.
“The horns are going and they just seem to know when to move quickly. And the roundabouts … well, they are something else. In England, you give way to someone already on the roundabout. Not here. The vehicle joining the roundabout has priority – or that’s how it seems !”
But the former Tottenham, Manchester United, Millwall and West Ham striker was quick to stress: “It is a great experience here. I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.”
It is far from the cocooned existence of the life of anyone involved in professional football in England – with club or country.
“You live in a bubble, you don’t really see anything of where you are. I have been all over Europe and also to Japan with England,” he added. “But, in many ways, you could be anywhere. You don’t see anything of the real city or country where you are based.”
Sheringham has made a point of getting to know his new surroundings.
And he does a lot of it on a hired motorbike.
“It’s the best way to get around, to be honest,” said Sheringham. “I have a Harley Davidson back home in England and I love riding it. Now I do the same over here. It is a fascinating country.”
India has certainly posed challenges for Sheringham.
No cosseted lifestyle for him and his players, who include former Republic of Ireland star Robbie Keane.
“There was one trip we had which involved a five-hour train journey,” said Sheringham, who won the Champions League with Manchester United in 1999 (left).
“It was the only way we could get there. Coming back, the train was an hour late. So we were all on the platform waiting and then came the signal that the train was a few minutes away.
“It was actually in sight when, suddenly, dozens of people charged across the tracks on to the other platform! It was madness. They just wanted to be on the other side of the train to grab a seat.
“How there were not fatalities I do not know. There were police there, but they just let the people get on with it. That was something of an eye-opener!”
But despite the challenging environment, Sheringham is relishing the lifestyle.
“And I have made a point of seeing what the real India is about,” he said. “The poverty, well, it is staggering.
“We are staying at a great hotel, very comfortable. But you walk down a side-street nearby and at the bottom there is a little lake and you see people doing their washing. There are so many contrasts here.
“I also make sure that whenever we travel I have a good look round at the cities we are visiting because of the problems and delays we could face. We have to go to a match two or three days ahead.
“So I hire a motorbike and go round to see the famous monuments. It is a remarkable country – a real eye-opener for me. I see places that I was never able to see when I was a player.”
It is also something of a family affair for Sheringham.
His son Charlie is playing in Bangladesh. “It’s only an hour’s flight away so we can see each other fairly easily,” said Sheringham. “And the football is improving over here. It is not the No.1 sport and many of the stadiums are not really football stadiums. We get good crowds, but they are not like grounds in England or the rest of Europe. “There is a rule about having a set number of Indian players in your squad and that will help the development of the game here.
“Technically, the Indian players are good. They just lack that physical edge. They are enthusiastic and they want to learn. But I reckon it could be the next generation when we really see them coming through.
“The problem is there are no parks or pitches for the youngsters to practise on and learn. But I am sure that will come in time.”
a motorbike I have to and go round see the famous It is a monuments. remarkable country. real eye-opener A for me