Brandon Fernandes' journey, and 5 other Indians who have tasted European football

When it comes to football, India is ranked in the worst quarter of the world, and fares worse than countries like Uzbekistan and Bahrain.

Such stats can deflate any youngster from pursuing football. But that did not stop Brandon Fernandes, a Goan born footballer from continuing to work hard at every step of football. He has recently been offered a $1 million move to Reading FC, a club from the top flight of English Premier League. If successfully completed, the deal would be the biggest in the history of Indian football.

No stranger to national attention, he has represented India at U-13, U-16, U-17 and U-19 levels. Now the challenge is bigger than ever as he steps into the limelight as a footballer from an unknown footballing country.

Very few players from India have ever made a name in Europe if any at all. While there have been some players who were of Indian origin like Michael Chopra, who plays for Cardiff at the moment, players who have been raised in India have had a much harder time to get even noticed by foreign scouts.

Here are a few Indian players who made a mark in terms of reaching the European leagues:

1. Baichung Bhutia

2. Sunil Chettri

3. Mehtab Hossain

4. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

5. Subrata Paul

And now comes …. Brandon Fernandes

There has been much talk about how this would open the floodgates for more talented youngsters to get a chance outside India. It is true in a sense, but is that the whole story to it?

Is it realistic to believe that a player from the relatively poorer I-League setup can play in the top professional leagues of Europe?

Sunil Chhetri had a brief stint in Sporting Kansas City, where he failed to adapt to the rigorous training and physical demands of Major League Soccer (MLS).

There has been indication on various fronts that such signings are done not based on player records but rather on the number of shirts they will sell. The Indian fan base is so huge that even a minor football following population would be more than enough to appeal to top level clubs who aim to sell player merchandise for more money.

The aim here is not to discourage foreign moves but to point out the more feasible moves.

Football wise, India is at the bottom of the ladder while England or Spain is at its top. So, an easier path could be a move to more competitive leagues, like say the J-League (Japan). After the player reaches a certain level he can aim for better sides or look for a move towards Europe.

Of course a player like Brandon Fernandes could very well be an exception given that he has already played well in South Africa and has been very consistent.

A top flight European player needs considerable technical skills, high level of fitness, a good diet and strong physical and mental conditioning.

Fernandes seems to fit all of the conditions being a strong midfield attacker with an eye for goal. But, can he take his game to the next level? Only time will tell. From an Indian’s point of view, we can only hope for his success to bring closer attention to Indian footballers.