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.

Indian Football Team's New Mantra – Nothing is Impossible

Cameroon, Syria, Maldives, Nepal – These were the opponents lined up alongside hosts, India for the Nehru Cup, last month. All higher ranked. Some boasting of World Cup experience. Some boasting of a rich footballing history. Some with a vociferous fan backing. But all of them with rankings higher than that of India's. The sight of Cameroon in the list, even if it was one without the names you'd normally associate with the The Indomitable Lions, would have lead many to believe that the result of the tournament was a foregone conclusion. Cameroon to take the honours – the rest to fight for whatever glory there was left to take!

The above feeling was one not only shared by many fans (India fans have grown up fearing for the worst whenever India plays) but also by the Cameroon side, including their coach Emanuel Bosso – who proudly professed before the final: “We have come here to win the cup and our boys will do that. We won the group league match by one goal; maybe we will win the final by a bigger margin.”

Taking a side lightly is one of the cardinal sins in sport, but even then there are a few things you get away with. Especially, when your team is ranked 109 places above the opponent. What Bosso did not account for however, was the Indian Football Team's new found attitude – Nothing is Impossible!

Apparently, those were the first words told to the team when new coach, Wim Koevermans met them for the first time. He couldn't have got the lads to believe in that statement more, having delivered what he promised with a stunning defeat of a heavy-weight side to help India lift the prestigious Nehru Cup for the 3^rd time in a row.

Koevarmans is still new to the India job, but he has started off on the right note and the players believe so themselves. In an exclusive interview, India defender Denzil Franco gives the coach much credit for their performance saying he has helped instill belief and also motivates the players to perform better.

“Wim Kovermans has been to a lot of places and he is a very experienced coach. He is also a very calm person and understands the players well. He was always the person who kept motivating us saying anything is possible. Even when we started the camp, he seemed impressed with the camp and told the players that he's sure we'd go far as a team and that pumped up the team. It was great working under him and I want to continue doing so,” said the 26 year old.

Koevermans has brought into the side what one would normally not attach to Indian football – Pre-planning and execution. Many, including me, expected the final to be a repeat of the dress-rehearsal(during which India lost 1-0), but Franco revealed that the team actually were made to sit and chalk out a plan based on what happened in the previous game.

“The final before the final did help us quite well. For every match, you always go in with a plan – what their plus points are, what their weaknesses are. The match(before the final) helped us to locate their weakness and where we can stop them. The match gave us a good understanding as to what we can expect from them in the final. Our coach had a good plan and he gave us good instructions and that helped us a lot.”

One worrying factor for many fans over the years has been India's seemingly undying love for using the long-ball tactic even if the move hardly ever paid dividends. There has been a marked difference in India's play recently and that, more than the results, has given the Indian football aficionado more reasons to cheer.

The players themselves get a chance to express themselves and play true to their potential. Franco said that as a footballer he enjoyed building attacks patiently rather than going for long balls and hope for the best.

“People who come to watch us should go back thinking the game was worth the money that they paid. I think, the Indian team tried to entertain their fans and win during the tourney. The coach also was very sure about the tactic he was going to use. In fact, on the very first day he told us – No Long Balls! Previously it has been about too many long balls for us and it was necessary for us to keep the ball at our feet and play,” the Churchill Brothers player said.

He was also of the opinion that playing this brand of football would ensure India take big strides in football and judging by people's reaction to Koevermans' India, he could be spot on.

“It was amazing to see the way the guys played from the stands and even from the bench. For me as well, it was nice to play passing football and I hope we carry on playing this way and we'll go forward.”

The defender also stressed on the importance of India having to play higher ranked teams on a regular basis so they get more exposure. Franco also felt the need for the young team to stick together for sometime to come as that would bring out the best in everyone.

“We were the lowest ranked team in the tournament and we ended up winning the Cup. I'm not underestimating our opponents, but I feel we were really good and that all this rankings hype did not affect us. If we keep continuing to play the way we are playing, we will automatically climb up the ladder. 

I feel the team is also ready to take on teams like Kuwait, etc. That will give us an opportunity to show what we are capable of. They have to stick with the same team for some time to come. This is young team with a few experienced folks and the more the teams spends together the results will start to show.”

Of course, apart from the hat-trick of Nehru Cup wins and the good press for the same, what made Franco and the team really happy was the turn-out for the India games. Franco says the crowd support was so good that it egged the players to give it their all.

“The crowd support was a big plus point for us. The support came from all corners of the crowd, and such boisterous support was a big help for us,” he sums up.

The team has done its bit in living up to its motto by upstaging one of the more accomplished teams in world football, lets hope it is a precursor for things to come in Indian football. Nothing is Impossible indeed!

If juju works in football, India will be winning every World Cup. Trying to understand juju in African football

Superstitions are not uncommon in sport, and football and its players are no exception to this rule. From the greatest in the sport to the myriad others hoping to become so, weird practices/routines before, during or after the game are as much as a part of playing the game itself. But, does the practice take so much predilection that players concentrate more on persuading supernatural powers to help them out rather than putting their hard work on the field? Apparently, yes!

Africa: Where beliefs lord over ability and hard work?

In Africa, where Juju is common among local people, the footballers are not that much different. According to Wikipedia juju is An object of any kind superstitiously venerated by West African native tribes, and used as a charm, amulet, or means of protection; a fetish. Also the supernatural or magical power attributed to such objects, or the system of observances connected therewith; also a ban or interdiction effected by means of such an object. African footballers have been known to go to great lengths in getting juju to work for them as they believe charms and spells help them become victorious and at times even work against their opponents. 

Not long ago, Goran Stevanovic, former Ghana coach, attributed his team failure to win the AFCON 2012 to players who try to outdo each other using black power or Juju. In his report after the tournament in which the Black Stars finished fourth, Stevanovic said, “We all need to help in changing some players’ mentality about using black power to destroy themselves and also make sure we install discipline and respect for each other.”

Player and administrators too strongly believing in juju could spell doom for African football

Ask former Nigerian footballer and Mohammedan Sporting(Bangladesh) coach, Emeka Ezeugo about juju and he is quick to say that all that will not work. “If juju worked for some players, why did we not win the World Cup with it?” It was reported that his team-mate Taribo West spent a large chunk of money on juju but Ezeugo did not want to delve too much on the topic saying, “I will let Taribo answer any question related to him.”

Not long ago, Ezeugo is reported to have spoken to the media about his time with the Super Eagles and how most of the players used juju to keep their places in the team. Ezeugo is supposed to have said during the disclosure that there are players who believed in juju and when he came to the national team in 1987, there was juju everywhere with players hanging all sorts or amulets to curry favour with the powers in their changing rooms. 

Even if the claims may not surprise many, Ezeugo squashed these reports saying it was only by a journalist who was trying to take the short-cut to success and that he never made any of those claims. Speaking exclusively, the former defender said “I began playing for Nigeria in 1987, that was different time all-together. Any player who believed in such rubbish quickly lost his place in the team. Juju doesn't play football.”

Even if juju was not prevalent in the team Ezeugo was a part of, African football is rife with practices that often border on the extreme. Randy Joe Sa'ah reports for the BBC that it is quite common in Africa to find teams camping out nights in a graveyard before an important match. Teams... International teams have gone as far as not using the host country's facilities such as rooms or vehicles as they fear they could be contaminated by harmful charms. 

Of course, ridding the country of such practices would be so much easier if the people who claim to have powers and the people who believe in them reduce, but that seems unlikely as even top administrators try to help their team ride their luck by sending out witchdoctors as members of the federation.

Former Technical Director of Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Kashimowo Laloko, once told the BBC World Service programme that he believes juju can change the course of a football match. "I believe it does exist (juju). As an African, we have our customs and tradition."
In 2002, the BBC reported that the Ivory Coast government had to settle a 10 year dispute with witchdoctors who claimed that they had a hand in the team's triumph in African Nations Cup in Senegal in 1992. The doctors were apparently hired by the Ivory Coast Sports Minister.

Cameroon's then minister of sport and physical education, Michel Zoah also clearly indicated that the government was sending out witchdoctors as team staff as he said during the press conference that the team's failure was due to many things, one of which being witchcraft not being effective.

Reports all over the net indicate the lower leagues are plagued by such practices.

With so many people at the very top also believing in juju helping their teams in winning, it would be tough for Africa to rid their lower leagues of such practices. Reports all over the net indicate the lower leagues are plagued by such practices and teams openly take part in them. But had juju worked, African would have been raking in the money and swimming in glory ages ago. Alas, they still have a lot to do. Before long, could become a disease and affect player/team performance like none other.


Ezeugo sums up everything brilliantly with the quote of the interview. In his own words: “If juju works in football, India will be winning every World Cup. India has no rival in jadu(magic).”

U-16 football team: Future bright or just another false dawn?

A reflection on India U16′s superb showing in the AFC qualifiers and if we should be heralding the win as the coming of age of Indian football or if it’s just another false dawn showing what we are capable of but not what we can constantly achieve.

When was the last time an Indian football aficionado fell back fondly on performances of the Indian team? Nehru Cup in 2009? And before that? 2008 AFC Challenge Cup? The fact remains that for an Indian football fan, joy only comes in patches and sorrow/disappointment by the load. And when it does rain joy, it also brings with it hope of a future with much more success and fear of another embarrassing loss looming around the corner.

It was the same feeling I was torn between when our Under 16 team sealed a spot in the AFC main qualifiers with a stupendous show against some of the top teams in Asia. They now sit with the 39 best U16 teams in Asia and will look to spring another surprise or two enroute to the main event.
The Indian colts played 4 games winning 3 of them and crashing to an unpleasant defeat against hosts and last year’s finalists Uzbekistan, but the performance has had most Indians waxing lyrical about the talent our country possesses and what we could achieve if the youngsters were nurtured properly.

Joy

India’s show in the qualifiers bordered on both poor and excellent. It is tough to think of when an Indian football team (considering recent form, add the Indian cricket team as well) made such a strong start to a tournament. The youngsters showed Kyrgyzstan how it’s done with a 7-0 (yes, 7-0) win and followed that up with a classy performance. Up against a highly fancied Bahrain team, the Indian colts got through with a result many would’ve deemed unlikely at the start. India beat Bahrain 2-1 and looked set to seal the place in the main qualifying event, they just needed 1 more win to assure themselves of a spot and going on current form it looked on the cards. What made the victory all the more impressive was they way the boys came back in the second half after going a goal down. They kept building pressure against a solid Bahrain defense and eventually broke them down.

Despair

Kyrgyzstan and Bahrain were both ranked above the Indians in the group and the wins gave the team and their fans hope of upstaging giants Uzbekistan in the next game. The last edition’s finalists were clear favourites top the table being ranked #1 in the West Asia group and they certainly didn’t disappoint putting on an immaculate show to consign India to the depths again with a massive 9-0 win.The fear was back again – the story was all to similar – a solid start, a thumping received, team flattened, returning home disappointed. India would do immensely well to claw themselves back into the tournament after such a beating and the task ahead was mammoth. Tajikistan were higher ranked and in good form having won once and drawn once, a win for them would’ve sealed shut India’s chances. A win for Tajikistan too would give them a major push to reach the main qualifiers and a lot was at stake for both teams.

Joy

With things looking bleak the Indian U16 team sprung another surprise with a stunning display against their more esteemed opponents. They went a goal down again but showed admirable courage and ability to fightback by scoring 2 goals each half to assure themselves of another shot at going through to the main event. They won the game 4-1 and are now placed along with 38 other teams to fight The run in the tournament had belied the predictions of many pundits, but kept alive the hopes of millions that India can be a force to reckon with in the Asia circle at least. The coach, Thomas Joseph had given his team only a 50% chance of going through prior to the qualifiers in Uzbekistan. “We have a good team and we have practiced hard for the event. Uzbekistan are the hosts and stay the strong contenders. I’d say we have a 50-50 chance,” Thomas had said. But this team was much more than just ‘a good’ team as the results showed.

Before many celebrate the win as a herald for a new era of football in India, I must say a more cautious approach will benefit all parties concerned. Less heartache for the fans, less pressure for the players and subsequently a host of better performers for the country. But such a tremendous effort for such a young team cannot help but offer hope to many who want to see India as a tough competitor rather than just be lambs to the slaughter against tough opposition. And hope we will, because it has not forsaken our lands still.