I am here to win, not just participate, says Delhi Dynamos marquee player-manager Roberto Carlos

Roberto Carlos has officially been announced as Delhi Dynamos’ Roberto Carlos

With the advent of the Indian Super League last year, there was this shimmering hope that the beautiful game and the way it’s received in our country will change out of all recognition. After months of gruesome preparation and overcoming obstacles on all fronts, the league was flagged off in Kolkata on October 12 and by the time it culminated in Mumbai’s DY Patil stadium on December 20, it had, indeed left its imprint on the canvas that India, as a footballing nation provides us with.

There was much joy, hype, finger-pointing and attention seeking, neither of which was synonymous to the I-League. People had finally decided to indulge in “Lets Football” and the tournament went “phataphati” not just for the champions, but for everyone associated with the spectacle.

7 months on and there have apprehensions of how will the next edition of the league be, will it be able to attract crowds in a way similar to last year or will the excitement fizzle out? One of the major factors which ensured the same was the presence of international superstars in an inaugural edition, and as it seems for now, the franchisees are looking to do the same this year too.

There have been players who have been retained by their teams, some who have swapped loyalties and will now be representing a different team and then there have been new inductees to the ISL family; none of them bigger in stature than former Real Madrid and Brazil legend-Roberto Carlos.

Taking over from Harm van Veldhoven, the World Cup winner was unveiled as the Delhi Dynamos marquee player-manager in the capital earlier today. Sounding extremely optimistic, he said, “I would like to thank the owners for providing me with this opportunity. I feel elated to come here and can hope that together we do great things.”

“From what I have seen the structure has been of the highest level. Having followed the league from last year, I believe it’s going to be challenging but I am not here to participate but to win.”

Talking about the state of the game in general in India, he added, “The level of Indian football has to be raised in front of the world. Together we have to raise standards here and see that Indian players go abroad. And my efforts towards the same start with this Dynamos assignment.”

Having managed Turkish clubs Sivasspor & Akhisar Belediyespor and Russian team Anzhi Makhachkala, he isn’t new to coaching and the experience, as he emphasized will do the club a world of good, “See I’ve played under some great coaches like del Bosque, Dunga, Luiz Scolari and Fabio Capello & have been greatly influenced by them; will hope to bring all that experience to the table and try and take the team forward.”

“I am very subdued as a coach, but that won’t deter me to emphasize that I will give it my all to get DD to win the ISL this year”, signed off the diminutive legend.