Michael Chopra interview: Aiming for the stars in land of opportunity

Alam Khan - Reporter 06:06 12/10/2014
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  • New start: Michael Chopra is eager to help the ISL grow in popularity.

    Among the more illustrious names of Alessandro Del Piero, Nicolas Anelka, Freddie Ljungberg and Robert Pires when the Indian Super League kicks-off today, one footballer may perhaps resonate more with the locals when they flock to see the new sporting show in town.

    As a talented teenage striker at Newcastle, Michael Chopra attracted worldwide attention as the first player of Indian heritage to play, and subsequently score, in the English Premier League.

    Back then he dreamt of emulating his hero Alan Shearer and playing for England, his country of birth 30 years ago, as he gained youth international honours.

    But now Chopra is ready to enhance ties with the land of his forefathers and embark on an adventure that he hopes will lead to a special period – and wipe away memories from the recent past that included getting help for a gambling addiction in which he confessed to blowing up to £2 million (Dh11.8m) over the years.

    The frontman, who will be starring for the Sachin Tendulkarowned Kerala Blasters under player-coach David James, says: “I’ve got no regrets over what’s happened in the past.

    “I’ve played in the Premier League, the Champions League, and you’re always in the spotlight in football. You can’t do anything without anybody saying anything to you, but you just have to deal with it and move on.

    “I just look to what I’m going to do in the future, not think about the past. I don’t want to think I should have done this or that, or changed this and that, because you can’t. You can only change what you can do in the future and that’s what I want to do.

    “It’s not really hard being reminded of it (past problems), because I’ve done it… it happened. But I just try to believe things will be better in the future and that’s why I am so excited about taking part in the Super League. This is a new challenge and one I needed.

    “People have been talking about a Super League for around three years and it never happened. Now it has, and it’s time to make a difference.

    “There’s no limit to where this can go – and no limit to the things I want to achieve. I’m not thinking about being on billboards or a superstar like [cricketers] MS Dhoni or Tendulkar. I just want to play as well as I can and whatever happens after that happens. My main intention is to help Indian football grow.”

    As he talks, there is a sense that Chopra truly wants to make a difference in the long-term and not just in the three months of the inaugural tournament.

    He has talked about relinquishing his British Citizenship in order to play international football for India and is keen to take part in the more established I-League, and eventually coaching.

    It all seems a far cry from games against Barcelona in the Nou Camp, and Sunderland spending £5m (Dh29.5m) to make him one of those rare players to step out for the Tyne and Wear rivals.

    “I grew up watching people like Alan Shearer, he was my hero,” Chopra says. “Now I want to go to India and want all the Indian kids to say Michael Chopra is my hero, and hopefully help some of them come through to become footballers There’s not enough and we need to find out why.

    “When I was 14-15, dedicating my life to become a professional footballer, it was tough. I never went out with my friends, but those sort of sacrifices you make, you get the benefits.

    “It was hard being labelled the first Asian to come through in the Premier League, but it was hard coming through at a club like Newcastle anyway so I never really thought about that too much at the time.

    "It was only when I was about 20, 21 and people started to take notice more and talk about it. I want to be an inspiration and will give advice to those Indian kids who want to learn.

    “People have always given me advice and it’s about what you do with that advice. I remember people told me to stay at Newcastle when they offered me a contract and I left to go to Cardiff.

    "I did well that year and Sunderland then bought me for £5m so if I’d taken that advice and stayed at Newcastle I might not have been in that position and done as well, or not been the player I am now because I wouldn’t have been in the first team. You make your decisions and stand by them.

    “It was hard at the time to go to Sunderland after being at Newcastle, but you have to put your support to one side, forget about the situation with the fans and think about your football.

    "I wanted to play in the Premier League again and that chance came with Sunderland and I wanted to be managed by Roy Keane. You could tell he worked under Sir Alex Ferguson because of his philosophy on the game.

    “I’ve had a great career, no matter what, but now I want to do something special in India and it means a bit more to me and my family. Before this, I’d actually never been to India and my dad [Minty] had never been either. He was born in Newcastle and his parents came over from India in the 1950s. He’s honoured and excited, like me. I’ve got relatives there, based in Delhi, and they will come to watch.

    “This really is going back to my roots and I really believe the league will take off. There’s so much potential.

    “Cricket’s the big sport in India, we all know that, but hopefully I can help persuade them to go into football and follow a new dream. I watch the cricket IPL every now and then and it’s massive. Hopefully football can go that way too.

    “It will be strange not to be in a sport that’s No1 like football is in England, but that’s down to me and the others to change that.

    “Sachin wants to get people into football so that’s a massive factor. He’s a legend and everyone you mention his name to goes, ‘wow, I can’t believe you’re playing for his team’. I want to be top scorer and have won the title after the first season. That’s the target.”

    With that, and if he overshadows bigger names, Chopra will no doubt become India’s new hero.

    FACTFILE

    Born: Newcastle, England, on December 23, 1983.
    Club career: Newcastle (2000- 2006); Cardiff (2006-07/09-11); Sunderland (2007-09); Ipswich (2011-13); Blackpool (2013-14).
    Loan spells (Watford, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley, Cardiff).
    Achievements: Represented England from Under-16 to Under-21 levels.

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