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Bundesliga (second division) side Fortuna Dusseldorf are set to welcome Indian international defender and IMG-Reliance contracted Nirmal Chettri as well as Dempo SC midfielder Godwin Franco for a one week trial in Germany next week.
Fortuna Dusseldorf, former German champions in 1933 and only relegated from the top tier Bundesliga last season, have invited the Indian players with the intent to have a closer look at them and to access if they fit into their squad. If the players are successful in their short initial trial, then they would either be invited back later in the season or at the beginning of the next season.
The trial, which is a first for any Indian professional footballer in Germany, is a chance for the players to show themselves to a professional football team, who are looking to add to their squad.
Nirmal Chettri is looking forward to being in Germany. “It has always been my dream to give European football a shot. Irrespective of the results at the trials, I feel this will be a big learning opportunity for me. I will get to see where I stand amongst established players in Germany. This might be the first time I will be going to Europe on a trial but certainly not the last. Currently, I have offers to join the I-League but have kept them on hold for this opportunity which I am keenly looking forward to it. Opportunities like this one doesn’t come too oftenand if we don’t take the chance we will never know where we stand in world football.”
An elated Godwin Franco said, “First I thank God for giving me this huge opportunity of being selected by Fortuna Dusseldorf for trials. It’s something massive as the club played Bundesliga only last season, one of the best leagues in the world and they have won the German title in the past. AlsoGermany is a football powerhouse and by the grace of God I’m going to give my best!”
Both players know that they will have a tough week of football ahead of them, but Nirmal said, “Going to the German League is not the easiest thing to do although it is just for a week, so I am ready to give all I have. I just want to be able to give my best at every session in this trial and see what the technical staff of Dusseldorf have to say about me. I recent days I have often spoken to Gouramangi Singhand Subrata Pal and I understand that the level of football and training sessions are completely different to what we are used to but the coaches are there to help us and get us accustomed.”
Godwin Franco
Both footballers are established I-League players and look forward to the chance to show themselves to the coaches at Fortuna Dusseldorf though the current cool weather conditions in Germany won’t be easily, but both are prepared to weather the November storms.
“I would like to thank Arunava Chaudhuri (whom I look forward to spending time with in the coming week in Germany) who has made this trial possible and for IMG-Reliance for their continuous support from day one in every decision we take. Alsoa thank you to my representatives The Football Edge for continuously being there in whatever I do,” Nirmal Chettri further said.
Godwin went on to add, “I want to thank Arunava Chaudhuri and Fortuna Dusseldorf for liking and showing interest in my footballing abilities! FurtherI want to thank my club Dempo SC for being so cooperative and allowing me to go to Germany for the trials.”
Germany-based Arunava Chaudhuri, who has been involved in Indian football for over 15 years, has organised the trial for Nirmal Chettri and Godwin Franco with the help of a German friend, who is a FIFA licensed player agent. “I would like to take this opportunity to first thank Fortuna Dusseldorf for giving this opportunity to our Indian players, but I also would like to thank Dempo SC, IMG-Reliance, The Football Edge and some friends, who wish not want to be named, for their help in making this trial possible. It has been a lot of work in the last three months to get this trial goingand I know both Nirmal and Godwin will give their best,” Arunava said.
“Lets see how this week at Fortuna Dusseldorf pans out, then anything is possible in football. The opportunity has been created for the players to achieve something,” Arunava went on to add.
The players are set to arrive in Dusseldorf from India on Tuesday, November 12 and are set to start their training with Fortuna Dusseldorf at the clubs training complex besides the Esprit Arena on Wednesday, November 13.
