Chirag United midfielder Denson Devadas speaks about the use of artificial turfs and also looks ahead to the coming season...
Next month’s IFA Shield will be the first real competitive tournament of the Indian football calendar. The artificial turf of the Salt Lake Stadium might be ready for the tournament, which would give Indian players the first opportunity to play in such conditions at domestic level.
Chirag’s Kerala born midfielder Denson Devadas is welcoming the use of artificial turfs but did admit that playing on it will be difficult initially.
Speaking to Goal.com he said, “Indian football will definitely benefit if we use artificial turfs. But it wont be easy playing on artificial turfs as we would be training on normal pitches only.
“Initially it will be difficult to adapt to it but we can’t just think about that as an excuse while playing, all the players and teams will be facing the same problems so we should get on with it without complaining.”
Denson who represented West Bengal in the Santosh Trophy, talked about his affection for the region and also looked ahead to the coming season.
“Well I actually don’t give too much importance to the place where I am playing. I am a professional so I have to play wherever it's best for my career.
“But after spending two seasons at Chirag and then playing for West Bengal in the Santosh Trophy, I have built up a bond with this region and I am enjoying my time here.
“We have a very good squad this time around so there will be a lot of competition for places so every player including me has to give their best.
“Last season it was largely about surviving but this time we aim to do well in the I-League and maybe also pick up a trophy in some other competition.”
Chirag had been having their residential camp at Lalbaugh in Mushirabad district of West Bengal but have now shifted to Kalyani due to some problems.
When asked on the same Denson said, “There was a lot of power cuts in Mushirabad so the management decided to shift the camp to Kalyani.
“Its much better here(Kalyani), not only the place where we are staying but also the grounds.
“For now we are just working on our fitness as many of us have been out of practice for a long time. In a few weeks time the players should be ready for some match practice,” he concluded.
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Thursday 30 July 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.