Chopra ready to play for India

Former Newcastle United striker Michael Chopra is ready to surrender his British passport to represent the country of his origin, India, and realise his dream of playing seniorlevel international football.

The 30- year- old Chopra, whose grandparents moved to England from Jalandhar in Punjab in the 1950s, has represented England at the age- group tournaments.

He was approached by the All India Football Federation in the past to play for the national team but things did not work out.

Chopra qualifies to play for India due to his parentage as per Fifa rules but government regulations in India allow only a person holding a valid passport to represent the national team.

“I was going to play for them four years ago. But at that time Iwas only 26 and I was too young to give upmy British passport and travel around the world at that age,” Chopra told Reuters in an interview.

“I just had a little boy that was born and things like that, so it would have been difficult. My boy is six now and he has grown up and understands what his dad has got to do.

“So I plan to move to India and give up my British citizenship and get an Indian passport to play for the national team and take them forward.” Chopra, who has also played for a host of other Premier League clubs, was last month picked by the Kerala Blasters, coowned by cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar, for the upcoming Indian Super League ( ISL).

The eight- franchise ISL will run from October 12 to December 20 in its inaugural edition but Chopra sees a future for himself beyond that in India’s national league ( I- League).

“That’s my plan. I have spoken to my agency about my future about what I will be doing after the ISL. The prospect of playing in the I League excites me as well,” Chopra, who also has plans to open academies in India, said.

“And also to play for the national team as well. Hopefully things come along and I can do all three.”