Shilarze Saha Roy
AIFF Media Team
KOLKATA: Diego Forlán remembers India differently from most visiting national-team coaches.
He remembers it from inside the dressing room. He remembers travelling across the country with Mumbai City FC, playing in the Indian Super League, coming to Kolkata and seeing stands filled with people who cared deeply about football.
Nearly a decade later, Forlán is back. Only the role has changed.
The former Uruguay striker arrived in India this time as head coach of his country, preparing the two-time world champions to face India at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Tuesday.
“It’s been almost 10 years since I came here,” Forlán said. “I had the opportunity to play in the ISL for Mumbai City. I spent six months here, playing in Kolkata, Mumbai and different cities. I discovered a really nice country, with a lot of people and a lot of good football players.”
His memories of Kolkata remain particularly vivid.
Forlán recalled travelling here during his ISL spell and being struck by the crowds and the city’s appetite for football.
“Every time the team was playing here, the stadium was full,” he said, placing Kolkata alongside Kerala, Goa and the northeast among the pockets of India where he felt football most strongly. They are really passionate about football. They have good players as well.
"I think it's good that the national team is playing these kinds of friendly games. In the future, they can have more games like this, so they can learn and become a better team."
He also watched India against Brazil from the stands in Kolkata.
The scoreline was emphatic, but Forlán saw enough to ensure Uruguay would not treat Tuesday as a ceremonial final stop on their Asian tour.
“India had some really good players. They knew what to do,” he said. “There were some really nice combinations. If you give them time and space, they can damage you, and they can play well. So you have to respect everybody.”
There has also been time for Forlán and his players to experience Kolkata away from football. Uruguay have spent almost a week in the city, and the coach spoke warmly about the reception.
“The people are very humble, and the hospitality is great,” he said. “Every time I came here to India, people have been really kind.”
The squad managed to go around the city before rain arrived, allowing several players their first glimpse of the country Forlán had known as a player.
“We just saw very little. You’re a really big country. But it’s a very historic culture, so it was nice to be around.”
And what of Kolkata’s food?
Forlán smiled when asked whether Uruguay’s players had sampled the city’s sweets, fish or biryani. “Maybe we can try after the match.”
Ten years ago, Forlán came to India to play.
This time he has returned carrying Uruguay’s footballing legacy from the touchline — but with enough memories of this country to know that Tuesday night will mean rather more to the hosts than simply another friendly.
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