India's superstar in the making – Brandon Fernandes

For many, many football aficionados in India, watching one of the games involving their heroes live is a huge accomplishment. Hence, it comes as no surprise when the likes of Maradona, Pele and Oliver Khan among the many others who visited India were thronged with crowds that gathered for as far as the eye could see. Now, you can only imagine what it would be like if a youngster, all of 16, was selected among thousands of other participants from around the country to train at Old Trafford with the world famous Manchester United Soccer School. Brandon Fernandes has that distinction, that claim that could make even his best of friends go green with envy.

For many, getting that far would mean having accomplished a dream that was, not long ago, improbable. A story they could tell their grandchildren. But Fernandes dared to dream higher and now he is on the cusp of achieving what no Indian has ever done – a contract with a top division English club, Reading FC.

It would be easy to attribute the hype about young footballer to the training with the famous Manchester School, but the truth remains that Fernandes, like most footballers in a developing country, had to push his way through a lot of smaller clubs before his talent caught the eye of someone who could push him into the big league. There hasn't been any shortage of admirers for the lad from Goa. He was snapped up by prestigious Indian club, Salgaocar FC when he was just 13 and the management saw no harm in making the mid-fielder play along side the U-19 side, such was his talent.

He also was a constant figure in the National youth teams, representing the Blue Tigers in the U-13, U-16, U-17, U-19 levels and it was here that the ones who mattered started to notice the boy's undeniable talent. African Soccer Development, Cape Town (ASD) soon roped in the promising youngster and it was here that Fernandes started to blossom. ASD's state of the art facilities and training programs helped Fernandes become the player he is today.

In an exclusive interview, Brandon spoke of his disbelief when he first heard about the trial. “My first reaction was that I really couldn't believe this! A Premiership trial is not something that happens to Indian players. I'm so excited and I just really hope I can do my country proud.”

Brandon's climb to the top has been anything but easy. He came from a country that doesn't have the best backing for a young soccer player and in spite of possessing oodles of talent, his diminutive physique made him susceptible. A point emphasized by ASD's director, Mike Steptoe. 

“At first we were not sure (about Brandon). He had great skill but no physicality and he didn't settle because of the lure of playing U17 and U19 for India.”

Steptoe added that playing for India actually proved to be detrimental to his growth as a player and that it was only when the lure of playing football for Indian diminished that Fernandes could take the leap forward.

“Unfortunately his International career impeded his development. He has made rapid progress over the past twelve months whilst not playing Internationally. We always knew he had the potential but it was critical that we had to have more time with him,” felt Steptoe.

But all that changed soon after as the youngster started to make his impact and soon everyone were convinced about what he will do. 

“Brandon is a very determined young man with good character and will be a role model for Indian football. He is a quick learner and hungry to perform at the highest level.” said Steptoe in an exclusive interview.

Fernandes, for a boy of 17, has his heart in right place. He has set goals based on what his strengths are and says he would love to see Indian football go to another level.

“I feel immensely proud (every time I pull on an Indian jersey). It is a great honour to play for my country. I would love to see Indian football go to another level. For that to happen, we need to produce more quality players. I honestly believe we have the talent to do that, and in the meantime I will focus on working hard to take my own game to the next level,” he added.

When quizzed about his strengths, Fernandes said his 'finishing and eye for goal' are the attributes that make him dangerous.

“I am an attacking midfielder, but can play anywhere in the midfield. I think my main strength is in my finishing and my eye for he goal. In that respect, the player I most want to be like in the future is Lionel Messi.”

It's completely normal for a youngster to be carried away with all the hype around him - Everyone branding him India's next big star; a trial with a top club; becoming the first Asian to be signed up by the ASD; taking everyone by storm with his virtuoso displays in the National youth team last year. But Fernandes has his feet firmly planted, he hasn't forgotten how he's gotten to where he is now.

“I started playing soccer on the streets with my friends when I was 4 years old. Most of my family members are into sport, especially soccer. I was mainly encouraged by my dad,” the Goa player said, The player most looked up to as a youngster was Bruno Couthino, from Goa.

So who does he look up to now? “Nowadays, I don't just look up to one player, rather I look up to many great players who play Midfield like I do. I learn different things from watching different players, but if I was being pushed to name one I would say Cristiano Ronaldo.”

We've heard such talk from almost every other young, promising footballer from all over the globe wanting to emulate Messi and be like Ronaldo. Achieving what the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have done would be the stuff of dreams. But, if there's one thing the Brandon Fernandes story teaches you – it is that Dreams will come True!!

Fernandes has his dreams too.... “My ultimate dream would be to play for Manchester United.” Here's hoping, for his and India's sake they come true.

Interview with ASD director Mike Steptoe and Brandon Fernandes

Interview with ASD Director Mike Steptoe

How did the organization arrive upon the idea of coming up with such a school. What are/have been/were the biggest obstacles for the organization?

The school was my vision in 2005 and has only been operational since April 2009. I felt that there was an opening for an independent organization to develop elite talent outside of professional football clubs. The biggest obstacles were raising finance and convincing people that there was another way of doing things.
Professional football people are very protective of their own environment due to their own insecurities. Most have grown up in football and don't know anything else so therefore feel threatened by outsiders with experience of other industries. For example, everyone in football told me that I was wasting my time looking at India for potential talent that could one day play in top European leagues.
I discovered that there was as much raw talent in India as anywhere else in the world. Wherever there is poverty, there are thousands of potential footballers. India is no exception.
It just doesn't have the infrastructure to develop that talent through the crucial years of 14 to 18. These are the critical development years because of the speed of the European game.
Players get an average of 1.1 seconds on the ball in the EPL and La Liga. If boys are not capable at 18 of playing at that tempo then it is unlikely that they will ever be able to compete at that level.
We selected South Africa as the location based on the climate and the abundance of raw talent in Africa. Most of our boys are South African although we have an 18 year old Kenyan with 4 full international caps when he was 16 and boys from Zambia, Cameroon, Nigeria, Namibia and of course 2 boys from India.

Many clubs always look to make best use of a player's potential and then sell him to a big club for a good amount of money. How different is the ASD in that way?
We take a very holistic approach to enable each of our players to achieve their maximum potential. However, we are a commercial business and our aim is to be self sufficient and the only way we can do that is through transfer revenues and training compensation.
Players are still developing and learning their trade until they are at least 23 so it is important for us to put them with clubs that have a similar philosophy of development. We prefer to retain a percentage in the onward sale of a player for this reason.
We also continue to support every player who moves on from ASD with our own management support team. We are a 'football family' and every boy that makes it in professional football knows that he is an ambassador for his brothers if they are to have the same opportunity.

What kind of exposure does the ASD provide to budding youngsters? Facilities wise, playing abroad wise, coaching wise.
We have top class visionary coaches and have a football philosophy which is unique. We are fully residential and provide education as well as football development.
We train and play at the University of Cape Town and have our own nutritionists, sports science, welfare psychologist and other support staff.
We aim to tour each year with our U19 squad. In 2011 we toured Belgium and beat Mechelen 4 - 0 and Anderlecht 4 - 1. In 2012 we went to Portugal and beat FC Braga 2 - 0 and went on to play a very close game with Deporto La Coruna in Spain which we eventually lost.
We also played El Jaish in Qatar where we led 2 - 1 until conceding a dubious penalty in the final minutes.

How do you go about zeroing on a potential candidate. How tough is it to get someone to agree to join your academy, especially when they are from another country?
It's not difficult because we know what we are looking for and there are thousands of boys that could potentially make it with the right coaching.
The language barrier and logistics are usually the most difficult area of recruitment for us in India. We are very keen to establish relationships with Indian clubs and scouts for boys born in 1996 and 1998 at this point in time.
We are looking to take in to the Academy at least 3 Indian boys per year from this year onwards. We already have Amarjit Singh from Punjab who has played at U17 for India and we are looking for 2 more players this year. We have a scouting network in various countries in Africa.

Tell us about Brandon Fernandes. What was your/club coaches' first impression? Did you feel he had it in him to go far?
At first we were not sure. He had great skill but no physicality and he didn't settle because of the lure of playing U17 and U19 for India.
Unfortunately his International career impeded his development. He has made rapid progress over the past twelve months whilst not playing Internationally. We always knew he had the potential but it was critical that we had to have more time with him.
Brandon is a very determined young man with good character and will be a role model for Indian football. He is a quick learner and hungry to perform at the highest level.

How many clubs(and which ones, if it can be revealed) are behind Brandon? And how surprised were you when you first heard that there were EPL clubs interested in him?
Firstly, it would be unfair to comment on the interested clubs but it is commonly known that most EPL clubs are looking for an Indian player good enough to play in the Premiership.
They are all keen to engage the interest of the sub continent in their own clubs because of the commercial impact.

What other success stories have the ASD brought out? Any players/graduates who have gone on to make/are making it big?
As stated we have only been operational since 2009 but already have Ayanda Patosi playing for Lokeren in Belgium.
He is still only 19 but is a regular starter and has over 30 games in mid-field for them. He is tipped as one of the stars of the future in Belgian football and is likely to get his first full International cap for South Africa shortly.
Ebrahim Seedat is playing for BidVest Wits in the SA PSL and the National U20 and we have all other graduates of our school earning a living from football in the SA div 1 and 2.
Also, we expect to confirm in the next few days another player moving into the MLS in North America.

What are the ASD's long term goals?
Our Mission is: 'To develop professional footballers and future ambassadors through our distinctive football philosophy and holistic character development.'



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Interview with Brandon Fernandes.
Firstly congratulations on the trial and here's hoping on behalf of the entire country that you do really, really well. What was your first reaction when you heard you were attracting the interest of top clubs?
My first reaction was that I really couldn't believe this! A premiership trial is not something that happens to Indian players. I'm so excited and I just really hope I can do my country proud.

Tell us about your background. How naturally did football come to you? Who were the people who got you to play football? Any players you looked up to from when you were young?
I started playing soccer on the streets with my friends when I was 4 years old. Most of my family members are into sport, especially soccer. I was mainly encouraged by my dad. The players most looked up to as a youngster was Bruno Couthino from Goa. Nowadays I don't just look up to one player, rather I look up to many great players who play Midfield like I do. I learn different things from watching different players, but if I was being pushed to name one I would say Cristiano Ronaldo.

You've represented India at U13, U16, U17 and U19 levels. How important is representing the country for you. How do you feel every time you pull on an Indian jersey?
I feel immensely proud. It is a great honour to play for my country.

You are a mid-fielder and unfortunately not many know more about you. Tell us where you like to play most and which player you'd want to play like? What are your main strengths?
I am an attacking midfielder, but can play anywhere in the midfield. I think my main strength is in my finishing and my eye for he goal.

In that respect, the player I most want to be like in the future is Lionel Messi.

You are being touted by many as the player to take Indian football to the next level. Now, that is a heavy burden at such a young age. How do you plan/are planning to cope with that pressure/hype?
I would love to see Indian football go to another level. For that to happen we need to produce more quality players. I honestly believe we have the talent to do that, and in the meantime I will focus on working hard to take my own game to the next level.

Finally, if it was down to you to choose any club in the world to play for, where would you like to play?
Right now I am concentrating on winning a contract at a good club. My ultimate dream would be to play for Manchester United.

Once again, all the best for your trial. I sincerely hope that you fulfill your potential and take Indian football to greater heights.