Former Club World Cup winner Chicao relishing the India experience

Chicao exults after scoring the winner against Chennaiyin (Image courtesy ISL)

A Club World Cup winner from 2013 has now appeared twice in the ongoing edition of the Indian Super League and unlike other big names gracing the competition, Anderson Sebastiao Cardoso or Chicao as he is more popularly known has gone about his job extremely quietly. Characteristically nonchalant in his approach, this central back has won almost all major honours in South American and World football. From winning the Copa do Brasil with 2 of the biggest teams there- Corinthians and Flamengo in 2009 and ’13 respectively to lifting the famed Copa Libertadores in 2012, to say that he has been to the zenith of the sport would be an understatement.

Thus it was extremely surprising when he was brought by the Delhi Dynamos without much publicity. Maybe Roberto Carlos, who by his own admission had known Chicao for a long time wanted to shield him from the intrusive research teams of the other 7 franchisees.

Two match in to the league though, everyone knows about him. After a slightly subdued performance in the opener vs FC Goa, he came in to his own last night and led Delhi to their first win over Chennaiyin FC.

Talking after the encounter, which also happened to be the franchisees first home match, he said, “I am happy with my performance, especially since we hadn’t quite managed to play well in the first game.” As another enquiry propped up about if it was difficult to contain physical players like Fikru and Mendoza, Chicao shrugged off a smile and benign to the pressure that was seen on field replied, “I’ve played with physical players all my life, so this is nothing new.”

The Brazilian addressed the media after the game (Image courtesy ISL)

Spurred by the record crowd here, he marshalled the attack from central midfield with Hans Mulder and it wouldn’t be unfair he added a different dimension to the already formidable frontline of Delhi. Expressing his gratitude to the 20000 people who turned up the game, he said, “It felt very good. The supporters were cheering continuously and that made the game better.

Its them who make the party happen. It was like this in Goa and over here as well. Now as we have four away games and we will face tough teams and supporters, I want to appeal to the Delhi supporters for travelling and cheering for us.”

Needless to say, he seems to be enjoying his time with the club and in the tourney and as the gaffer had hoped if he keeps producing such performances, in 2 months, he would have another glittering addition to his resume, that of the Hero Indian Super League 2015.