KOCHI:The domestic football competitions in Australia and India have a few things in common -- and it is not just about the packed stadiums, passionate fans and scintillating football.When the Indian Super League (ISL) began in 2013, it borrowed the idea of franchise system from Australia’s A-League and USA’s Major League Soccer that did not have relegation and promotion and the top four teams qualifying for the semifinal playoffs. It has proved to be a big hit and a new chapter will be written when ISL’s Kerala Blasters face A-League’s Melbourne City FC in what will be the first face-off between clubs from the two leagues.
And the visitors from the Down Under are looking forward to the meeting. “We have heard a lot about ISL. It is telecast here as well, but the time difference makes it hard for us to catch up on,” said Eugene Galekovic, the Australian goalkeeper who was part of their 2014 World Cup squad. “I have had a couple of my friends playing there and I have heard from them that football is becoming popular over there,” said Melbourne winger Dario Vidosic who was born in the former Yugoslavia and has Croatian roots.
Their coach Warren Joyce, a former coach at Manchester United, has had a few of his former trainees playing in India and can’t wait to have the experience first-hand. “It is a great opportunity not just to understand the football, but also the local culture,” said Joyce.
The Melbourne City gaffer hopes the tournament in Kochi will produce two tough matches against Blasters and Girona FC and will help his side as they begin their domestic campaign with an FFA Cup Round of 32 match against Brisbane Roar FC on August 7.
Anthony Caceres, the 25-year-old midfielder on loan from Melbourne’s partner club Manchester City FC, believes the team is shaping up nicely for the 2018-19 season. “We are already into a week of preseason and we have done a lot of running and worked on our fitness. Now, it is time to put all that work into performance on the field,” said Anthony.
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Riley McGree who only recently joined the club is looking to impress his new teammates and coaches. He would hope to follow the path taken by Melbourne’s young striker Daniel Arzani who was part of Australia’s 2018 World Cup squad.
“We are a group with a mix of youngsters and veterans. It is an important preseason for me as it is my first with the team,” said McGree. Meanwhile, defender Scott Jamieson is looking forward to meeting Blasters’ passionate supporters. “We have heard that they are the most passionate fans in the country and that they are called the Yellow Army. We want to give our best and give them some quality football,” said Jamieson.