Delhi Dynamos eyeing Chinese Super League market

Delhi Dynamos FC’s presentation showcasing the growth of Indian Football over the years was extremely well received at the three-day long World Soccer Congress held in Shanghai. DDFC president Prashant Agarwal was the sole Indian at this highly prestigious congress, and he spoke at length about the Indian football story on the 3rd day of the event, after heavy networking with representatives from international football associations, clubs, and agents over the first 2 days.

Agarwal spoke on the history of Indian Football, and the current scenario of the Indian Football Industry. From India’s fine run in the fifties to the advent of the Indian Super League,  Agarwal successfully covered every aspect of the genesis and development of football in India. IMG Reliance’s incredible endeavor to help football in India- The Indian Super League, was a major highlight of his talk.

Football Sports Development Limited’s (FSDL) efforts in creating a super brand like the ISL and helping put India firmly on the World football map was something that  Agarwal lauded throughout his presentation. To achieve the sort of success that ISL has achieved in such a short span of time (less than 3 years) is no less than a fairytale! And, DDFC has always appreciated that and spoken highly of it. This event was no different.

Agarwal also discussed the various initiatives undertaken by Delhi Dynamos FC to help develop football at the grassroots level. At DDFC, we believe that footballing is a skill, an art that has to be honed right from childhood, and that belief is what drives our expansive grassroots efforts. An example of the same is DDFC’s partnership with India’s largest and oldest youth football tournament, The Subroto Cup.

Delhi Dynamos F.C. has, over the past 2 years, made a habit of singing the right mix of experience and youth, fame and obscurity while selecting a team. From international superstars like Alessandro del Piero, John Arne Riise, Roberto Carlos, and Florent Malouda,  to lesser-known, young, yet immensely talented ballers like Gustavo Marmentini Dos Santos and Adil Nabi, DDFC has successfully created a special space for itself among football fans, critics, and administration across the world. DDFC harbours ambitions of helping India become a footballing superpower, and at the World Soccer Congress, we had the opportunity to share that dream with the whole world.

The congress has helped Delhi Dynamos F.C. build relationships with clubs from the China, Japan and Australia amongst many other Asian countries. Strategically, this has worked out great for us as DDFC intends to build strong relationships in the Asian region before the Dynamos begin playing AFC tournaments.

Adelaide United F.C. Chairman, Greg Griffin shared his thoughts with the DDFC Media team on the Congress, “I think it’s been very good, primarily because I think there are some very good people who have come here, like you and I, Dortmund and various good agents.”

When asked about the Indian Super League and Indian footballing Talent Griffin added, “I watch and follow the ISL on television in Australia. I think it’s an outstanding success for the numbers, the people coming to the matches in such a short period of time it’s simply outstanding for people who have achieved it. I personally watch it because I am trying to see whether there is a player who we could perhaps take to Adelaide. With our league we are entitled to an Asian player, in terms of profile in India I can’t imagine a better market for getting an Indian player who can be playing for Adelaide”

The Dynamos have always believed in the idea of global brotherhood and this congress has helped us further the same belief. While DDFC currently shares a strong technical relationship with West Bromwich Albion, which resulted in the 2015 signing of Adil Nabi, we intend to forge many such alliances with people and clubs across the world that share the common love called FOOTBALL.

Talking about relationships built through the World Soccer Congress, Prashant Agarwal stated, “We at Delhi Dynamos have already established very key and valuable relationships across borders with West Brom, and this year we are entering Greece and Italy…we would be very happy to have a strategic relationship in China as well”

On the sidelines of the congress, Agarwal had a very fruitful meeting with FIFA Committee Member Theodoros Giannikos, Vice President, Olympiacos FC. Speaking with the DDFC Media Team, Giannikos said, “…this was a good opportunity to be informed about Indian football, and especially the club Delhi Dynamos who seem to be a very good team and an extremely promising club. Indian Football is not a known factor to most of the people in the world, but through the Dynamos president we saw the deep rooted culture of football in India. Unlike other Asian countries where children are sent to play football, Indian kids like football…. Academies will be very important in making professional players. It’s a matter of time (before) India will make good top professional footballers through initiatives like the ones Delhi Dynamos are running.”

Agarwal is currently in China, and will be extending his stay in order to build on the foundation he’s laid down at the World Soccer Congress.  He said, “The Chinese market is interesting and appealing given the fact how Chinese market has been performing in the recent FIFA Transfer Window on player signings. Our technical team has been keeping a close eye on numerous players transferred to the Chinese Super League, we may never know what holds here”