In Mumbai to promote the second season of Premier Futsal, Ronaldinho talks about the state of Indian football, as well as Brazil's.
Brazilian football legend Ronaldinho was in Mumbai on Friday to promote the second season of Premier Futsal. The 37-year-old had brought the five-on-five, street-football like tournament into the spotlight in India after scoring five sensational goals in a single game during the inaugural edition last year. Back in India for season two, Ronaldinho said he is confident the tournament is going to grow from strength to strength.
Among other things, the 2002 FIFA World Cup-winner also shared his views on the current state of Indian football. Here are excerpts from an interview:
Did Futsal have any impact in your career as a footballer?
Yes, it did. Since the size of the ball in Futsal is smaller, you have to think faster. You have to be more creative while controlling the ball. So all this helped me a lot when I stepped on the field.
India is quite a passionate footballing nation. It has recently even broken into the top 100 of the FIFA rankings for the first time. Apart from the current leagues in the country like Premier Futsal, what else do you think needs to be done for football in India to grow further?
I've been following Indian football closely, and I've seen it grow. Big names coming here to play is the right start. That way people get more passionate about the sport, kids get to fall in love seeing their idols play in front of their eyes. The more time they spend with the ball, the more they explore the magic of the game, the more it will grow. Especially after the success of Premier Futsal last year, I do believe it will draw youngsters in India towards football. It will also help other sports to grow in India.
Do you think India hosting the FIFA Under-17 World Cup will help popularise the sport further?
Definitely. Every sport helps, but it's very easy to fall in love with Futsal. It's very dynamic. Every child can start playing it easily, and so I believe it will help in the development of the youth.
Was playing with Barcelona the best phase of your career?
Yes, it was one of the most amazing phases of my career. But thanks to God, I have happy memories of conquering titles with all the clubs that I represented. Barcelona, though, is a little extra special since I spent most of my time there.
Compared to the glorious years the Brazilian national team saw during your time, does it worry you to see the dip in success off-late?
Football is made of moments. In our generation too we faced many tough moments, we even struggled to qualify for the World Cup. But we got passed it. I see a lot of talent in the current crop of players. And I'm sure, like us, they'll get around this dip soon.
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