PANJIM: Indian football players are a motivated lot and the standard will improve as more players get involved. They would have to take help, if necessary, from coaches based in France or elsewhere. This was a view presented by Vikash Dhorasoo, a member of the French World Cup football team that finished runners-up in 2006.
Former footballer Dhorasoo, who has played for France, Paris Saint Germaine and AC Milan disclosed that he had seen many young boys and girls playing football in Goa and South India and that it is a very good sign.
“It is important to eat right. Pasta which was considered to be healthy, is no longer so and hence the option for rice. Our own vegetarian diet, is very good. We should add some meat to it and it will be perfect for us. We have all the right ingredients to do well,” stated Dhorasoo.
Dhorasoo felt India would soon be playing in the World Cup or that World Cup football would come to India. He, however, did not specify when that would happen.
Admitting that he faced a lot of racism in France in his years as a footballer, Dhorasoo said, “Sadly, racism is very much prevalent in our sport. Thankfully, a lot of people are fighting it now and hence there is hope. I did not face many problems as a sportsman but life after that has been tough at times. You have to understand that Blacks, Arabs, Asians are not the people in charge and so they don’t make the rules or are interpreting the rules. We have to change this”.
Dhorasoo spoke about his own teenage years, when he had to undergo a hernia operation and a back surgery which threatened his career. He told the young footballers, “I did not let the surgeries hamper my passion for the game. You need to be mentally strong to succeed in this game.”
Dhorasoo played a short, spirited game of football on the basketball courts of Mary Immaculate school at Fontainhas with the FC Goa under-14 members. Brahmanand who saw Dhorasoo play said, “Just see his footballing genius. Put a ball at his feet and he has forgotten his tummy ailment. That is true passion.”
On Dhorasoo’s latest illustrated biography, his publisher Berniere said, “Vikash’s life story is fascinating because of his Mauritian-Indian roots as also his deep sense of humour.”
Dhorasoo spoke in the presence of Brahmanand, his French publisher Vincent Berniere, Samuel Berthet, director, Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad, Anuradha Wagle, president, Alliance Francaise Panjim and writer Aniruddha Sen Gupta.
“The mission of Alliance Francaise Panjim is to connect the Francophone world with Goa. This event involving football, France and Goa has been the perfect launching pad for our new premises at Fontainhas,” summed up Anuradha.
