What Brandon Fernandes means for football in India

While Sunil Chhetri might the best known Indian footballer at the moment, the scenario may change if Brandon Fernandes has his way. The Indian U19 international from Goa, dubbed as the “Indian whizkid”, is currently the biggest thing in Indian football following a positive trial with Reading FC, while he is yet to begin his trial at Leicester City FC.

18 year old Brandon.

The 18 year old Goan came to light following his exploits in Indian youth sides, and has the distinction of training at the Manchester United Academy and competing in the Manchester United “World Skills Final” where he was noticed by ASD Cape Town, an elite football school based in South Africa. He was picked up by the academy in Western Cape at the age of 16.

What sets Brandon Fernandes apart from other footballers back in India is his superb technical ability with the ball. Apart from being a pacy winger, his self confessed eye for goal and vision sets him a class apart from generations of players from South Asia.

Recently, the speedy Goan was invited for trials at English Premier League outfit Reading FC, after touring Europe where he was watched by many scouts when he turned out against heavyweights like SC Braga, Deportivo La Coruna and KSC Lokeren. While at Reading, he trained with the developmental squad, took the field in one game and was credited with two assists of the three goals his side scored. It is understood that Reading were quite impressed with him, and are likely to take a positive decision regarding the youngster’s future in the near future. Meanwhile, Brandon is all set for a two-week trial at English Championship side Leicester City.

Having personally watched him turn out for the Indian U17 and U19 sides (most recently in Tehran, Iran), what strikes me is that while his ability with the ball is superb, perhaps a few sessions at the gym could complete him as a player. However, the race of Indians is such that it tends to peak physically at an age later than most and that may render my argument unsatisfactory.

The chance the diminutive winger has got is one that comes to probably one in a billion. Success at this level will be the stuff of legends. A story told to generations of young footballers yet to come, Fernandes could direct the attention to India as an unexplored reservoir of talent. Brandon will give every young footballer in India a chance to dream.