CHENNAI: As the assistant referee held up No 13 on the electronic board, Henrique Sereno limbered up to take the field in the second-half for Portugal against Croatia in 2013. It might have been a friendly match, but for the then 28-year-old, it was the moment he fulfilled his childhood ambition of representing his nation.
Since then, Sereno has come a long way, and is currently playing for Chennaiyin FC in the Indian Super League. This will be his second season in India after turning out for ATK last season. Incidentally, he scored the equalising goal against Kerala Blasters in the final. Chennaiyin’s captain was on the verge of extending his stay with the defending champions but the change in the club’s set-up and CFC’s subsequent wooing prompted the 32-year-old to move down south.
Introduced by new manager John Gregory as ‘champion’, Sereno has a clear aim in mind, helping his new team win back the crown they last won in 2015. “The coach has imbibed us with lot of confidence. I came here because the project is exciting and I have heard a lot of good things about the club from Raphael (Augusto). I am a winner and this club belongs to the top level,” he told Express.
A winner of the Portuguese Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal with Porto, Sereno has had a journeyman career since his release from the Portuguese champions. He has gone on to represent FC Köln and Mainz 05 in Germany, and Turkish top flight outfit Kayserispor.
He cites his former teammate and current Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo as an example on why he started playing wherever he got a chance. “I would have loved to play in Portugal. But there is a distinct lack of money in the game compared to the other leagues. I needed to move out. Ronaldo has the world at his feet because he is a monster in training and all he wants is to win, score more goals and win more trophies. “I suffered from injuries and then had the option of accepting bit-part roles. I wanted to keep playing regularly and that’s why I started moving out. So far, I have loved my team in India and hopefully, I can keep coming back.”
Impressed with the Indian talents he has seen so far, the centre-back draws parallels with Portugal’s 2016 Euro triumph and India’s maiden participation in the U-17 World Cup. “I saw the U-17 World Cup. This can be a springboard for a bright future. Nobody expected Portugal to win (the Euros). If a small country can win the continental trophy, there is no reason why such a large country can’t. I see a bright future for the young players in the country,” he said. Wednesday results: FC Pune City 2-1 Mumbai City
ayantan@newindianexpress.com