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THEY might be nearly 10,000 kilometres from home, but India’s AFL International Cup footballers are hoping to win over fans in Bendigo.
With the biennial international challenge due to kick-off in Melbourne on Sunday, the Indians have spent this week in Bendigo as guests of the Golden Square Football Netball Club.
They will head to Melbourne on Friday in time for their men’s division two tournament opener against Japan on Sunday, with a clash against Germany scheduled for Wednesday.
But it’s a return to Bendigo for the team’s third round clash against arch-rival Pakistan at Wade Street that has players like Peter Gaikwad and Harris Jamal most excited.
Gaikwad, who is from his nation’s biggest city Mumbai, said the team had been made to feel right at home in Bendigo.
“It’s a second home,” he said.
The team’s presence in Bendigo is no coincidence, with a Bendigo Football Netball League delegation, inspired by Golden Square chaplain Bruce Claridge, having helped run the AFL India National Championships in January for the past three years.
“We in Bendigo have built a long relationship with AFL India from our initial trip (in 2015), when we went to help out in the slums of Kolkota to help the kids there,” Claridge said.
“But now we are helping them run their national championships.
“Another part to it is every three years the AFL International Cup is run in Melbourne and Golden Square is looking after the boys this week.
“The big game is on August 11, under lights at Golden Square – we’re hosting the India versus Pakistan game and we are really hoping the Indians can get up for a win for us.”
The two sub-continental nations have been the fiercest of sporting rivals, dating back to 1947, when Pakistan was partitioned from India.
While many a ferocious battle between the two has been played out on the cricket ground, Jamal, who hails from Kolkota, said that intensity spilled over when the pair met on the Australian rules field.
“They are a pretty decent side as well, so it will be a pretty tough game,” he said.
“Our chances (in the International Cup) are good, but being honest we are looking forward to the German game and the Pakistan game – that will give us a chance for the trophy in division two.”
The Indian team were busy drumming up support for next week’s game in Bendigo during a visit to Weeroona College on Thursday.
A talk on the origins and current state of football in India was followed by a question and answer session, with the school presenting the Indian team with a new Sherrin football.
Claridge said he was hoping for a big crowd at next weekend’s game in Bendigo.
“We are hoping not just the Indian and Pakistan communities in Bendigo get on board, but football followers from all over,” he said.
The chaplain will lead a fourth delegation to India in January.
- The India v Pakistan AFL International Cup game will be held at Wade Street on Friday, August 11, at 7.30pm.