Subrata Pal ready for RB Leipzig trial

At a Red Bull India organised press conference at the Hotel Hindusthan International in Kolkata today, the Austrian energy drink maker formally announced the trial of Indian international goalkeeper, Subrata Pal at German fourth division (Regionalliga Nordost) club, RB Leipzig.

For 25 year old Subrata Pal, who had recently signed for Kolkata side Prayag United SC, this will not be his first visit to Germany. In August 2002, a young Subrata was part of the then India Under-17 national team which held a camp at the Sports School in Hennef and now he returns to the country a decade after his first visit.

At the press conference Subrata said, “I’m a fan of the German team and their former goalkeeper Oliver Kahn. By God’s grace, if I get a chance to play in the Bundesliga my dream will come true.”

“It’s fair to say that German football development plans are about the best in the world at the moment. It’s always been a dream for me to train in a system that pushes things to the next level.”

People who simply lack the football knowledge are critical about Subrata giving a trial to a fourth division in Germany. On that Subrata answered, “I’m confident that RB Leipzig is the place where I can really push myself and can develop myself into a better and stronger player.”

Subrata leaves Kolkata tomorrow night and will be in Leipzig by mid-day on Saturday. He will be in Germany until August 5 and he would then join the India preparatory camp ahead of the 2012 Nehru Cup. Subrata has gotten clearances from his new club Prayag United SC and as well as the AIFF for the trial.

New RB Leipzig head coach Alexander Zorniger said in a statement about the Indian goalkeepers visit, “We are delighted to have Subrata as a part of RB Leipzig during the off-season training. It will be a two week development and trial programme and we are really looking forward to it. We would like to understand during this training how we may potentially use his expertise in the future and also understand the depth of Indian football.”

Here the link to the Photos: Red Bull India/Subrata Pal press conference in Kolkata