Goa Khabar : Vikash Dhorasoo, member of the French World Cup football team that finished runners up in 2006 was very bullish about India’s World Cup prospects. The former footballer, who has played for France, Paris Saint Germaine and AC Milan, all top international teams said, “India will soon be playing the World Cup or World Cup football will come to India. On my travels through southern India and Goa, I have seen so many young boys and girls playing football. This is a very good sign.”
Dhorasoo was speaking at a function on Monday evening organised by the Alliance Francaise Panjim, the French language teaching and cultural institute which has recently opened their new office in the Fontainhas area of Panaji. Dhorasoo spoke to football fans and guests at the Panjim Inn hotel where he was flanked by legendary Indian footballer Brahmanand Sankhwalkar, his French publisher Vincent Berniere, Samuel Berthet, director, Alliance Francaise, Hyderabad and Anuradha Wagle, president, Alliance Francaise Panjim. Writer Aniruddha Sen Gupta conducted the interviews.
Admitting that he faced a lot of racism in France in his years as a footballer, Dhorasoo said, “Sadly, racism is very much prevalent in our sport. Thankfully, a lot of people are fighting it now and hence there is hope.”
In his interaction with the FC Goa girls under 14 team earlier in the afternoon, Dhorasoo spoke about his own teenage years, when he had to undergo a hernia operation and a back surgery which threatened his career. He told the young footballers, “I did not let the surgeries hamper my passion for the game. You need to be mentally strong to succeed in this game.”
Dhorasoo, who was nursing an upset tummy, did not let that come in the way, as he played a short, spirited game of football on the basketball courts of the Mary Immaculate school in Fontainhas with the FC Goa under 14 team members. Brahmanand who saw Dhorasoo play said, “Just see his footballing genius. Put a ball at his feet and he has forgotten his ailment. That is true passion.”
When the discussion veered to Dhorasoo’s latest illustrated biography, his publisher Berniere said, “Vikash’s life story is fascinating because of his Mauritian-Indian roots as also his deep sense of humour.”
Anuradha Wagle summed up the memorable evening by saying, “The mission of Alliance Francaise Panjim is to connect the Francophone world with Goa. This event involving football, France and Goa has been the perfect launching pad for our new premises.”
