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The advent of Inter Kashi in Indian football is a fascinating story, even though the club are yet to play their first official match in domestic football. The idea of forming a club to nurture young talents was conceived in Spain and finally took shape in India.
LaLiga giants Atletico de Madrid, who were associated with an Indian club in the last decade, expressed their willingness to help Indian Football grow while talking to a few Indian officials. Captivated by the idea, the man who stepped in to make it a reality was Kolkata-based entrepreneur Vinod Dugar and Inter Kashi was formed.
Mr. Dugar, a highly enthusiastic and dynamic personality, took his latest assignment seriously and decided to form a team, who would challenge the best in the country. The club applied to play in the I-League and were admitted by the All India Football Federation as one of the two new entrants in the I-League, along with Namdhari Football Club.
Mr. Dugar had another surprise up his sleeves. Inter Kashi decided to make Varanasi their home base, thus becoming the first professional club from Uttar Pradesh.
“Uttar Pradesh is one of the country’s biggest states,” explained Mr. Dugar. “Yet, to date, it didn’t have a big club representing at the national level. So, we thought, why not raise a club from UP that will make some impact? Then we zeroed in on Varanasi as the home venue. It is a unique city. Geographically, it is part of UP, but in reality, it’s a pan-India city. Every Indian considers the holy city his or her hometown in some way or another,” he added.
Asked about the club’s association with Atletico de Madrid, Mr. Dugar said: “We have done it with the active support of Atletico de Madrid. They want to help take Indian football ahead. We have a tie-up with them. They are providing the technical support. The I-League is a good platform. Inter Kashi will definitely progress and succeed in the league.”
An ardent lover of football, Mr. Dugar has his own plans on how to take the club forward, but he is a pragmatic man, too. On Inter Kashi’s current aim in the I-League, he said, “We have raised a competitive team. We will do well and contribute in our humble way to the growth of Indian Football.
“I can say Inter Kashi will be one of the most lovable teams in the I-League,” Mr. Dugar said.
Inter Kashi’s Spanish coach, Carlos Santamarina, went a step ahead and promised to play the brand of football that the crowd would love to watch. He is currently busy training his boys in Goa and said he was completely focussed on the team’s opening I-League match against Gokulam Kerala FC.
“You know, I am Spanish, so my football philosophy is also Spanish. Under my leadership, Inter Kashi will play entertaining football and win the hearts of the spectators,” he declared.
“I always take it one match at a time. In the I-League, too, I am looking forward to our first match against Gokulam Kerala. I am not thinking beyond that,” added Santamarina, who had been associated with Atletico de Madrid for over a decade, mainly as the coach of the age group teams.
Inter Kashi have recruited four foreigners and some well-known names in domestic football. English professional Peter Hartley, the former Jamshedpur FC captain, will be Inter Kashi’s star centre-back this season. Three other Spanish footballers, attacking midfielder Julen Perez del Pino, striker Mario Barco Vilar and winger Jordan Lamena Garrido, have also been recruited to strengthen the side.
“We have a balanced team; it’s a mixture of youth and experience,” said Santamarina. “Players like Jackichand Singh, Sumeet Passi have lots of experience. There are a few players, who were with me when I was the head coach of Tata Football Academy. Inter Kashi will be a difficult side to play,” warned the Spanish coach.
