'I started playing at the age of seven and since then I am playing with players much older than me'
'I am an attacking player and I consider David Beckham's example'
Having missed out in the first season of the ISL, young Brandon Fernandes tells Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com he is determined to prove his worth with MumbaI City FC in Season-2.
For an Indian kid to make it big in the world of football, Brandon Fernandes has a good CV.
The Goan lad had trials at Reading, Leicester City and Sunderland and, according to him, went pretty close to earning a deal.
The 20-year-old forward also had a fruitful three-year stint at Africa Soccer Development-Cape Town, a top academy in South Africa.
Today, this technically gifted player is easily India's finest young prospect to break into a European league.
It is not just his coaches who feel so. Mumbai City FC’s manager-cum-coach Nicolas Anelka too shares the same opinion.
The controversial ex-Premier League star believes that Fernandes has the quality.
The 36-year-old journeyman from France adds, "Brandon is fast and clever. He has a good first touch and can score goals like he did for us in the practice games. Above all, he is young and, therefore, a big talent for Mumbai City. I am sure, he will make it very soon for India.
"I know how to use him as I have played upfront with him. He is very easy to play with because he is very clever.”
The first season of the Indian Super League wasn't exactly the start Fernandes had hoped for.
When the domestic players for the draft were announced by IMG-Reliance, his name was missing as little-known players got the chance to rub shoulders with football stars from around the world.
But, today, Fernandes has made a mark for himself; he proved his mettle when he scored for Mumbai City FC during the practice games in Dubai.
Fernandes spoke exclusively to Laxmi Negi/Rediff.com:
This is your first ISL season. How are you feeling?
The ISL is huge; it is a big platform for me. I am surrounded with good quality players. So I will take this as another learning step for me.
I am sure at the end of this tournament I will be a better player.
How did you react when you were excluded from the first edition of the ISL despite being one of the best junior players?
It was a rude shock to me. I was expecting to be part of ISL-1, but, yeah, such things happen in football.
I was home and watching the ISL on television. I went to watch some matches at the Fatorda Stadium, in Margao (Goa). To be honest, I had goosebumps when I reached the stadium.
Even for the Lusofonia Games (held from January 18-29, 2014), the stadium wasn’t that packed. But the crowd was pouring in for the ISL. What does a footballer want? Fans to cheer for him. The atmosphere was amazing.
It is part of the game. I took it in my stride rather than sitting at home. I joined Sporting and played football and scored some goals.
But I promised myself that in Season 2 of the ISL I will be playing here rather than watching from the stands.
After all that I am finally glad that I am part of ISL-2.
What are your chances of starting for Mumbai City FC's first game?
I am working on my strengths. Everyone is helping me, especially coach, Nico, who has been talking to me on and off the field. I am hoping to make a start.
You have a great CV? How was the experience at Cape Town? Did it help?
It is a great feeling for now, but it is certainly not enough for me. For me, sky is the limit. I want to keep learning and keep improving all the time.
Three years in Cape Town, I played with good, quality players and the coaching standard was high. Also, I played a lot of tournaments there and got good encouragement from the coaches and management.
After that exposure I find it easy when I play with quality players, as I have seen most of the things they do. Therefore, my job becomes easier.
It is not difficult for me to play with quality players like Anelka. He is very motivating.
The transition from junior to senior is always difficult. Do you fear failure?
I started playing at the age of seven and since then I am playing with players much older than me.
When I was in South Africa the team was in the second division and, naturally, all the players were much older to me. Playing with such players has given me confidence.
If I have quality, I believe in putting more time to polish these qualities to make myself better. I am an attacking player and I consider David Beckham's example. He was good with set pieces and after training everyday he used to practice for hours with 25-30 balls.
It just shows how the stars never took their gift of football for granted. I try to practice that and bring such elements in my training too.
Are you disappointed about not playing for Goa FC?
I would have loved to play for FC Goa, but I have no regrets. I am rubbing shoulders with the great Anelka and happy to be a part of Mumbai City FC. What more could have I asked for?
When did you think of becoming a football player?
I started playing football at the age of seven for a club called Fransa (which has since shut down) in Goa in their under-14 team. When I started playing everyone around me told me that I can be a professional player and I took it seriously.
My brother played in his college football team, my father worked in the Goa Football Association and my mother was a kabaddi player. So I come a very sporting family.
What do you plan to do after the ISL?
My focus has always been on playing in Europe. That is what my priority is going to be. I haven’t signed for any I-league club; I am waiting for a chance to try my luck in Europe.
