Indian Football: The curious case of Michael Chopra

When India qualified for the Asia Cup in Qatar, speculation was rife that Michael Chopra, ex-Newcastle United player and the first South Asian to score a goal in the English Premier League, would play for the national team if he foregoes his British passport. That did not materialize but the speculation over whether he will make the switch to Indian football continues.

There is no doubt about Chopra’s credibility and accomplishments in English football. His exploits makes one proud of being an Indian. Considering the possibility that he could forego his British passport, what could be his impact on Indian football?

If he decided to forego his British passport to switch to Indian football, what will become of Chopra’s career with Ipswich town? Will he able to obtain a work permit to continue playing for them? A case in point is the predicament Sunil Chhetri was placed in when he was selected to play for QPR but the British Government denied him a work permit on the grounds that he belongs to a nation which is not in the top 70 of the FIFA rankings.

Chopra has spent his entire life in England, and is used to playing on smooth turfs and cool climate. In India, the turfs are nowhere near the quality of those found in England. Moreover, if he decides to make the switch to Indian football, he will have the tag of ‘EPL player’ attached to his name, thus heaping pressure on him to perform. For all we know, he could very well turn out to be what Fernando Torres has so far been for Chelsea, with the added pressure.

Another aspect of this matter to be taken into consideration is how well Chopra, who is used to the English long ball style of play where he receives punts on to his chest to score, will adapt himself to the Indian style of play and fit into the team. His inclusion would mean sidelining Jeje Lalpekhlua, India’s brightest talent who is tipped for big things in football. A proven talent even on the international stage, choosing Chopra for Jeje would be hard on the latter and would not be taken kindly by many fans.

Michael Chopra is a forward who has proven credentials, most notably being praised by Roy Keane and Alan Shearer. But what India should do is promote home grown talent rather than relying on a foreign man to move the team forward.

Edited by Zico