Mumbai: Brazilian legend Zico, the high profile coach in the upcoming Indian Super League, on Tuesday said the two-and-half month long league would help the 158th ranked India to improve their footballing skills and produce great talents in future.
"Football has to go through a process so that it becomes successful here too. Since this League is going to attract a lot of players from Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, I think India has much to learn from all these top players," Zico told reporters here.
"They will keep on playing for many long years so that the football keeps on growing. I hope that all of them keep on improving and give their best performance. This league will definitely grow to produce great footballers," he added.
Zico, who scored 48 international goals in 71 appearances for Brazil, will be coaching FC Goa and said his mission is to inspire the players and deliver good results.
"My mission is inspire the footballers and what is important for me is to have very good results for FC Goa. I hope that all the Indian football players who will be under me will showcase their talent and match up to great standards," he said.
Asked about his assessment of the Indian players, he said, "I have seen some of them, they have got good physical condition. Often they want to play a good game but forget what is their function. We give them the directions, now it is for the players to follow them.
"I have just had a look at them, can take a call on them in a few days time. I am not a magician in football. Give me some time, only then I can say what is their standard and where they are," said Zico.
Zico, who had coached the national side of Japan earlier, said he would implement the same in India what he did in with the Japanese team.
"What all I had implemented in Japan, I am going to apply in India. In Japan, baseball was the number one sport, like in India cricket is number one. Today there is space for each and every game in all parts of the world. Japan and India are big countries, there can be many people who can be playing cricket and the same goes for football. Football has grown in Japan but that doesn't mean baseball has gone down, football also has grown," he explained.
"Players here don't know what is to be a professional footballer, and even in Japan it was the same thing. One needs to train in physical strength, take good rest and eat well so as to grow as a footballer," he added.
FC Goa has roped in former French international and Arsenal player Robert Pires as its marquee player and Zico said, "I hope he will display his talent as he has done in the past. He is still an exceptional player. He will add to the quality and experience."
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