Vikash scored the goal
in the group stage qualifying match against Cyprus for the World Cup. “It was a
very stressful match but we scored 4-0. It was a big moment but at the same
time a great disillusion that we lost. I thought that we win the match, I would
be a star in India, so I also missed that too. But after many years, I realised
it was a big moment for me. When I saw the first match against Switzerland, the
board showed that I was the first player in the world of Indian origin to score
a goal. I was home and I saw my face on TV, I thought about my whole family and
how they must have felt,” says Vikash.
Based on his
experience at the World Cup in 2006, Vikash worked closely with his filmmaker
friend Fred Poulet, on documenting his World Cup journey. Filmed before and
during the 2006 FIFA World Cup, ‘Substitute’ is one of its kind film that shows
the bitter reality of what goes on behind the glamorous footballing event. This
film was also written by Vikash as his first book.
His second book was
‘Comme Ses Pieds’, an autobiography, published by Seuil followed by his third
book, ‘L’Engagement – explique a ma fille et ses potes du quartier’ also
published by Seuil. “The publishing house usually approaches me to write the
books. Seuil is a very big publishing house in France and then have a wide
reach. ‘J’perds pas la boule’ is published by Vincent Bernière which is a small
publishing house but focuses on comics and illustrations,” adds Vikash.
He jokingly says, “I
have to read it one time because I don’t know is written” but on a serious note
he says, “All the books are written by me and I don’t allow a single word to be
changed. I like to read and be well informed. I also defend footballers on
television shows.”
‘J’perds pas la boule’
which translates to ‘Football on my mind’ is based on the life of Vishash and
the different aspects of his life that makes him what he is today. Through the
book, he evokes his childhood memories from the time when he secured an
apprenticeship with Le Club Doyen at the age of 15. He made his debut against
Saint-Etienne in 1993 and joining Lyon in 1998, playing for AC Milan, and the
peak of his career during the 2006 World Cup. Readers will also come across
footballers like Zinedine Zidane, Raymond Domenech, Carlo Ancelotti, Yannick
Noah, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi. Through the ups and downs in his
life, Vikash always had his eye on the ball.
“This book is very
interesting because it is in a comic form with humour. It is about my life, my
love for football, my childhood, family and friends and even other footballers
that I have played with or have been inspired by. These are 40 short stories
but something that impacted me. I can speak for myself but I want readers to
read the book and then they can identify with me and reflect upon my life. Most
importantly, I am happy that I now have my own comic character,” explains
Vikash.
The book is
illustrated by Emilie Gleason, who is a Strasbourg, France-based student in
illustration. Her first comic book, ‘Salz & Pfeffer’, was published in
English by 2DCLOUD Publishers and she has done amazing work over the years.
This is Vikash’s first book in comics, “I let her do what she wants. She is a
noted comic designer in France. I worked with her and told her the stories and
based on these stories she made the comics. She has the freedom to be creative
but she had to be close to the story. Comics is a very popular medium in France
and very well accepted. The book is doing great in France,” he adds.
Publisher of the book,
Vincent Bernière is a writer and journalist too. “Vikash has a great sense of
humour. The book is in comical form, we added all the anecdotes that he would
tell me. These are written as short stories of one or two pages and made into
comic form by one of the foremost artist in France, Emilie Gleason. There are a
lot of stories from his childhood years to 2006 with the origin of his family.
Since the book has been well received in French, we are planning to translate
it into English, Italian and Spanish,” says Vincent.
Father of two daughters,
Vikash proudly says that whatever he is doing is all for them. “These books and
everything I have is all theirs,” concludes Vikash.