India’s football history has given former national captain Shabbir Ali the rare experience of facing some of the biggest names in world football. Now, with Brazil and Uruguay set to visit India, the legendary striker feels the current generation has an even bigger opportunity to learn and test itself against elite opposition.
India will first face Panama in Bengaluru on September 26 before meeting Brazil on October 3 and Uruguay on October 6 at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.
Shabbir Ali, who played against Argentina and Uruguay during his international career, believes such high-profile fixtures can provide Indian players with invaluable exposure and help them understand the demands of top-level football.
Recalling India’s meeting with Argentina in the Nehru Cup, Shabbir said the South American side had a formidable squad at the time. Argentina would go on to play in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, while India narrowly lost the encounter 1-0.
“Only Maradona and one other player were missing,” Shabbir Ali said.
India also came up against Uruguay during the same period, suffering a 3-1 defeat. Manas Bhattacharya scored India’s only goal in that match.
Looking back at those encounters, Shabbir feels the experience can serve as an example for today’s Indian players, particularly in terms of confidence and learning.
“There’s a big difference in rankings, but our boys will gain confidence. It will be a wonderful learning experience for the current players,” he said.
With Brazil and Uruguay arriving in Kolkata, the former India captain also expects the city to witness an extraordinary football atmosphere. Kolkata’s deep-rooted football culture, he feels, will make the occasion even more special.
“When major teams visit, excitement naturally skyrockets. When Messi came back in 2011, people travelled all the way from Hyderabad to Kolkata, just to watch him play. I also saw it when Brazil veterans played in Chennai, the turnout and energy were incredible. This will be even bigger,” he said.
Shabbir also fondly recalled Diego Maradona’s visit to Kolkata in 2008, an occasion that left a lasting impression on the city’s football fraternity.
“I’m excited just watching from the sidelines. If I could turn back time, it would be incredible. Back in 2008, when I was coaching a team and Maradona visited Kolkata, the atmosphere was unreal.”
For Shabbir, encounters against world-class teams should not be viewed merely as marquee fixtures. He believes regular exposure to strong international opposition is essential if Indian football is to make sustained progress.
The former captain is also looking forward to witnessing the matches in person when Brazil and Uruguay take on India in Kolkata.
“I’ll definitely be coming,” Shabir Ali said.
(With AIFF Inputs)
