Shamrock Rovers pioneers ready for ‘opportunity of a lifetime’ at India tournament

Vaccinations and visas all up to date, Shamrock Rovers will boldly go where no League of Ireland team has gone before when they fly out to India today to participate in an international football tournament.

Taking place in the southern coastal city of Kozhikode (also known as Calicut), the Sait Nagjee Amarsee tournament will see the Hoops pitted against teams representing the host nation and Argentina, as well as club sides from Hertha Berlin, 1860 Munich, Rapid Bucharest, Watford, Atletico Parananense from Brazil, and Dnipro Dniproppetrovsk from Ukraine.

The Rovers invitation came about when an agent with whom Hoops boss Pat Fenlon had worked at Hibs alerted him to an available place in the competition. Former Shels man Dave Rogers— who is now based in India with the Liverpool academy — had the facilities checked out and was able to give an encouraging report.

“They are very good facilities,” said Fenlon in Tallaght yesterday. “As well as working with the Liverpool academy, in the last few months Dave has been brought into the national set-up there. He says that’s where they play some of their games and do some of their training camps. He says it’s good.

“It’s not costing us anything and if it’s that type of tournament, with the quality of team there is, then we’re definitely interested. It’s been short notice and a bit of work for everyone at the club trying to get stuff sorted out but it’s all done now so we’re looking forward to it.”

Rovers would be in India for three weeks if they reach the final but, even if they don’t, they will have the option of staying on for the duration of the competition should Fenlon choose to make the most of the event for training purposes.

Although having to acclimatise to temperatures in the mid and upper 30s may be an issue, Fenlon doesn’t consider the Indian excursion a gamble, even if it could take up a big chunk of his side’s pre-season preparations.

“If you were out in the AUL this morning you’d think that was a bleedin‘ gamble trying to train in that, I can tell you,” he said. “Cause it was a gamble with cones and that flying around. But, no, it’s not a concern for me. Try standing in the AUL today with planes going over your head and the wind howling — it’s difficult to work.

“It’s a godsend for the managers and coaches to work with the players and spend a bit of time together. They were the main reasons for going for me — the games and being able to get a bit of time on the training pitch.”

Upon arrival, Rovers will have five days to acclimatise before they play their first game against Dnipro Dniproptrovsk on Monday, followed by meetings with 1860 Munich on Wednesday and the Argentinian U23 side — which will play at the Rio Olympics — on Sunday.

Summing up the exotic nature of the trip, Fenlon said: “You’ve got to be open-minded to this sort of stuff. It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. The staff we have are good. They all have experience of being around European games and that sort of stuff. You always come up against obstacles no matter where you go.”

One of which may, or may not, prove to be Irish sensitivity to the local cuisine. For the boss though, it should pose no problem.

“Indian food? I love it, yeah,” he beamed. “Normally I get it in Ashbourne though, so it’s a bit of a difference.”