The 27-year-old revealed that the exposure to the sport in India is more than back in his country.
U Mumba captain Fazel Atrachali from Iran loves the Indian national anthem. One wouldn't miss him humming it as the camera pans on him before a Pro Kabaddi League tie.
"It's a nice song and I love it. It's very simple. I like the last line, especially, Jaya He, Jaya He," he says as he interacts with the media ahead of the Mumbai leg of the league beginning from Saturday.
India is Atrachali's second home, he says. And he enjoys his stay ever since he started playing in the Pro Kabaddi League five seasons ago.
"Yes, this is my second home. From the time I first played in India till today. Here it is more professional than back in Iran. I am happy that I am in India. People are kind to me, always friendly and I have love for them," he says.
Born in Gorgan, north of Iran, Arachali is facing difficulties in terms of food, for Iranian food is less spicy compared to India.
"Food is the same, just the taste is different. There's little spice and more salt. The first season I had some problems but after that I am okay. It's been six years and I feel more Indian now," he says.
KNOW FAZEL
|
| Name: Fazel Atrachali |
| Born: March 29, 1992; Gorgan, Iran |
| Position: Defender, left corner |
| Clubs: U Mumba, Patna Pirates, Gujarat Fortunegiants |
| Achievements |
Best Defender (2016) in PKL
|
| Pro Kabaddi Champion (2015, 2016) |
| Asian Games Gold (2018) |
The 27-year-old revealed that the exposure to the sport in India is more than back in his country.
"Kabaddi is not different. In India you have more players while not many play there in Iran. The money is good only for top players there. Here it was the same in the first two seasons, but now everybody is being paid well," he says.
However, having won the 2016 World Cup, Atrachali says the game has picked up in Iran.
"More kids want to play ever since we won gold in World Cup. Usually football and basketball has good money. Even the media has started to cover the game there," he says.
In terms of leading U Mumba, Atrachali says: "It is never easy to be a leader but with the help of management and other players, it becomes easier. Even though I am not a Hindi-speaking person, I have now started to understand a lot of words and I can communicate with the players in Hindi on field too. I am looking forward to playing in Mumbai."
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 "Fazel Atrachali, Sandeep Narwal")
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