India can be market for EPL friendlies: Sunderland official

Kolkata: Observing that football was coming of age in India, Graham Robinson, head of international football development in Sunderland AFC, on Saturday said the country has the potential to be a market for pre-season friendlies for EPL clubs.

As a part of the Kolkata Goalz - a global collaborative project between the English Premier League (EPL) and the British Council - Robinson is in Kolkata for a week to impart training to local coaches associated with the project.

Hailing the Indian Super League (ISL) for rejuvenating football in India, Robinson said football in India was on rise.

"The Indian football is on up and it's a huge market for the EPL. People here religiously follow the English clubs. The ISL has become huge and there are a few English players playing in India. The ISL matches had drawn huge crowds so it's a huge market," said Robinson.

"I can see the Indian market to have the potential for pre season friendlies for the premier league clubs provided the stands and the basic infrastructure are developed. Having the potential, India can open the doors to the opportunities," he said.

Robinson said there was cultural change in India where people are now taking up football despite cricket being the predominant sports.

"There are a range of factors that have hindered growth of football in India. It's a kind of cultural thing where football is seen as a hobby rather than a career. But that thing is changing and with the facilities now improving, people are taking up football despite India being predominantly a cricket playing nation," said Robinson.

Talking about his stint under the Goalz project, Robinson said: "We are here now to impart knowledge to the coaches but in future we hope to partner with clubs, with individual teams and produce players.

"It's not only about talented footballers, this project is about developing the belief that they can be anything they want to be," he said about the Kolkata Goalz which is also supported by the city police, nine Kolkata Premier League clubs, the All India Football Federation and Indian Football Association.