The club has also roped in a Nigerian and British national of Indian descent to join the team as foreign players. The club will have seven players from different states of the country besides the 14 local players.
There's a whiff of fresh air after five months of summer unrest in Kashmir. From foreign coaches to players, the strife-torn Kashmir is the new home for the Indian and overseas footballers.
Real Kashmir FC, playing in the second division of I-League, has become the first local football club to hire a former Scottish player, David Robertson, to coach the youngsters in Kashmir, besides roping in noted Senegal player Lamine Tamba as captain.
The club has also roped in a Nigerian and British national of Indian descent to join the team as foreign players. The club will have seven players from different states of the country besides the 14 local players.
"We have scripted new history by becoming the first football club from Kashmir to have a European coach. Besides, we will be having three foreign players, seven national players apart from 14 local Kashmiri boys. We will be playing first round of I-League second division from January 21 in Delhi and Srinagar," said Salman Ashraf, manager of Real Kashmir FC.
On a snowy morning under sub-zero temperatures, the footballers are setting the only astro-turf ground here on fire during training. Unmindful of the political conflict, the players from different states and countries are practicing hard with the foreign coach will the able of winning the title.
"I have been playing professional football for six to seven years now. I was playing for Power Development Corporation but that club was wound up. I have joined Real Kashmir FC this year, and I want to make my mark here now," said Sameer Khan, a local player.
Established this year, Real Kashmir FC is only second club of the restive valley to be playing in the second division of I-League. "I have played for several clubs in India and it is my first time I am playing in Kashmir. It is a nice place and people are very good. Players are very cooperative. When I came here, I found it as my second home," said captain Tamba, 30.
What has caught the attention of the players in the club is their Scottish coach Robertson. The 48-year-old has played for Aberdeen, Rangers, and Leeds United besides the Scotland national team. He has also been coaching in different states in the US before moving to Kashmir this month to coach Real Kashmir FC.
"I am always open to new things to broaden my horizon and experience. It feels good to come here. It is my first time ever in India. We have been welcomed pretty well. Players have been respectful. I have been fortunate through my career as a player and as a coach to have been to (conflict ridden) places similar (to Kashmir). I have been to East Germany before the wall came down," Robertson said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Real Kashmir FC")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}