Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
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Odisha FC was one of the busiest clubs in the transfer market ahead of the seventh Indian Super League (ISL). After bringing in some of the finest Indian youngsters, the Bhubaneswar-based side roped in six foreigners in the form of three forwards – Diego Mauricio, Marcelinho and Manuel Onwu, one midfielder – Cole Alexander and two defenders – Steven Taylor and Jacob Tratt.
Tratt is a very talented young Aussie who has the ability to shine at the centre-back as well as right-back positions. After landing in Goa, he spoke about the project ahead in the ISL.
“Playing in the Indian Super League excites me. Its quality has grown over the years which is evident by the big names it has attracted to the league. I also love that football in India has a huge fan base and I look forward to making the fans proud,” said Tratt.
“After speaking to Stuart Baxter and learning of their vision for the future, I was excited to sign with this promising club and be a part of the upcoming season. I am looking forward to the 2020-21 season in the ISL. I aim to work hard and give my best every day and I know with that mentality, it will give me and the club the best chance of success.”
The Stuart Baxter-led coaching team at Odisha FC includes experienced foreigners like Assistant Coach Gerry Peyton and Goalkeeping coach Rogerio Ramos. The club has also signed former India international Steven Dias as their Indian Assistant Coach. Heaping praise on the coaching team, he expressed, “I am very much looking forward to working with Stuart and everyone else at the club. Already I have felt very welcomed by all staff and players. The coaching staff have a lot of experience and I am excited to grow and learn under their expertise.”
The 26-year-old centre-back also praised the club’s idea of promoting young Indian talents. With newly-signed players like Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, Samuel Lalmuanpuia, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Paul Ramfangzauva, Laishram Premjit Singh and many others, Odisha FC is one of the youngest teams in the entire league. Tratt is hopeful of passing on some of his key attributes regarding the game to the youngsters in the squad.
“Developing local youth is great for Indian football. The more exposure these young players get the better the future of football will be for India. I think back to my youth and some of the older players that I have worked with in the past and looked up to and how they were able to improve me as a player on and off the pitch.”
“I think the most important thing that I can pass on is my love for the game and the professionalism in which I approach it. I am looking forward to making many good memories with everybody at the club,” the Australian further added.
After the announcement regarding Tratt’s signing on the club’s official social media handles many fans took to Instagram and Twitter and welcomed him with a lot of messages. Asked about the recent Coronavirus pandemic and the impact it has already on football, he replied, “The impact that Covid-19 has had on football is devastating. However, football brings everybody together in tough times. As a player, the fans’ continued support helps motivates us every day and I want to say thank you to all the fans who have reached out and been very welcoming already. I hope to make all the Odisha FC fans proud over the course of the season.”
Tratt had led the Sydney FC colts to the National Youth League title in Australia and was consistently playing in the A-League before making his move to the Stuart Baxter-coached club. He also shared some memories from his professional career.
“When I look back on my memories as a youth league player at Sydney FC, I am very proud to say that I captained that team to an NYL title. We had a great team, players and staff that all worked together to achieve some great things and contribute to the success of the club. I have been lucky enough to learn and play with some great players over my time as a professional footballer. I try and improve and give my best every single day and playing with some great professionals you take little bits in from everybody but I think working with someone like Milos Ninkovic was a great experience for me.”
“I was also privileged enough to play against Manchester United at the start of the season and that was a great experience. They are one of the biggest clubs in the world with a number of world-class players, I think that game gave me the drive to want to verse players like that week in week out and I hope to reach that level at some point in my career,” Tratt concluded.
