Malaysia beckons Vijayan

KOZHIKODE, February 3: I M Vijayan's dream of playing professional soccer abroad is likely to materialise next season. A first division club...

KOZHIKODE, February 3: I M Vijayan8217;s dream of playing professional soccer abroad is likely to materialise next season. A first division club of Malaysia is on the lookout for this talented footballer and if the deal comes through, then Vijayan, captain of India8217;s first professional football side, FC Kochin, will sign up for at least three months at the start of the next season.

quot;Stephen Aberrowei, the Nigerian striker of JCT told me last month that his club in Malaysia had shown an interest in me and that the club8217;s boss was keen to sign me on. Stephen, my former team-mate in JCT, always believed that we would make an effective attacking pair. He has promised to do the talking on my behalf, and has asked me to wait,quot; said Vijayan.

quot;I had never been to Malaysia,quot; said the striker. quot;But I have heard that the standard of the game is high in that country. If I get a chance to play there, then it will indeed benefit my career.quot;

Vijayan has not made any concrete decisions on his future. quot;Yes, Mohun Bagan haveapproached me with a good offer for next season. But my immediate concern is to help FC Kochin win the title this year,quot; he said.

It is learnt that Bagan, the Calcutta powerhouse, have plans to sign up the trio of Vijayan, Jo Paul Ancheri and Carlton Chapman for the next season. Chima Okerie, Vijayan8217;s former partner in the Bagan attack, is said to be keen to have the gifted striker in the team. Chima and Vijayan had formed a deadly combination in the Bagan attack in the early 8217;90s.

Reflecting on FC Kochin8217;s performance in the ongoing Philips National Football League, Vijayan said: quot;True, we have not been able to play to our full potential in recent matches. But I am sure things will improve soon.quot; Kochin have been struggling in the NFL after an impressive start.

quot;It is too early to write off FC Kochin. There is still enough time for us to shrug off our blues and strike back,quot; said the most sought after striker in Indian soccer.

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FC Kochin, who lost to Dempo, Salgaocar and Mohun Bagan, in the league,have paid a heavy price for relying almost soley on Vijayan. Kochin8217;s record in the league has once again underlined the fact that the club8217;s fortunes depend largely on the scoring prowess of Vijayan. The club has fared miserably whenever Vijayan failed to deliver the goods.

Vijayan admitted that his career is going through a lean patch. quot;It is all part of the game. I am not a stranger to this kind of situation. It was there right from the start of my career. Still I have always been able to recover and bounce back. This time too I am confident of regaining my touch, at least in the second phase of the league. We have seven matches left and FCK have every chance to claim the title.quot;

quot;None can deny the fact that we fared miserably in some matches,quot; he said without pinpointing the areas where the team had flopped. quot;It seems we have failed to click as a team in those matches.quot;

Vijayan felt the overall standard of the game had come down in this edition of the NFL.