IndianFootball.Com Interview: ROGER VERDI (RAJINDER VIRDEE)

If you believe that an Indian has yet to share the hallowed turf of a football pitch with the all time greats of the beautiful game, then think again. A full blooded Indian has had the pleasure and honour of playing football against the likes of Pele, George Best, Beckenbauer, Eusebio, George Banks and so on. It is ironic that a nation like ours that sorely lacks sporting icons and legends has not heard the name of Rajinder Virdee that managed to make it to the top with some of most famous names if world football. With this interview, we attempt to right that wrong.

Please tell us about yourself, where were you born, your parents and your childhood? When did the love for football come about and when did you start formal training?

I am 54 years old; I live in Dallas, Texas in the USA. I have been married to a wonderful American girl for 16 years. I coach football (soccer) at the Youth level. I like to work out every day and play golf. No, I am not Tiger Verdi. I was born in Nairobi, Kenya, because my grandfather, who worked for the British Railroads, took his family to Africa. My parents were Sikhs and they were born in Jalandhar, India. My love for football, started when I was put in English schools as a youngster at the age of 6 years old. All the English kids played football and I loved it. My formal training never started till we moved to England.

Was football a part of your life in Kenya?

I think it's very difficult to say that when you are a 6 year old, that football was a part of your life. Because at that age you really have no idea but, enjoy playing the game at every chance you got.

How did you adjust to life in England after Kenya? How did football become a part of your life in England?

We moved to England when I was 7 years old, at that young age I believe anyone can adjust to anything, however, I did miss the warm weather of Kenya. When we landed at London Heathrow Airport, I remember snow flakes and it was cold. While driving from the airport and looking out of the car window with curiosity at the snow falling down, I saw football fields all over and all you could see was a sheet of white snow. Then suddenly, I saw some kids playing football on the snowy field and I was shelled shocked if you can call it, but, excited. I later found out, that football was the passion of the English people and their major sport. So, it was obvious that I would share in their passion for the same game that I loved to play and which I left behind in Kenya.

Please tell us about the name change from Rajinder Singh Birdi to Roger Verdi? Did it help reduce the amount of racism faced by you?

The name change was triggered after I was called a racist name due to my skin colour. I really didn't change my given name at birth legally; let's say it was my stage name. I approached my school principal and secured his permission for the change for schooling purposes. From then on, the name Roger Verdi is what I used. I thought it was hard for people to remember my original name and I had to come up with a name that people not only could remember it but, identify me other than being Asian. It did help with the racism but, I'm afraid very little. Funnily, the Verdi at the end of my name gave the impression I was an Italian and I almost had a deal to go to Italy based on that fact alone.

Please tell us about how you got into professional football in England? Were you scouted or did you make it through open trials? How old were you then and what position did you play in?

I loved sports and football was my favourite, So, I concentrated on that sport and my youth career was very successful. I was scouted while playing and representing my County, and a scout, who was watching the game, came to my home and signed me on Schoolboys forms, I was 14 years old then. What this really meant was that no other club could touch me. The club was in the English First division by the name of Wolverhampton Wanders. I spent a year there but, I felt I wasn't getting what I wanted and asked for a release. Then, I was invited for England schoolboy trials at Villa Park, in Birmingham. There a scout who saw me play and invited me to come to Ipswich Town for two weeks, for the manager Bobby Robson to have a look at me. Bobby Robson is of course now Sir Bobby Robson, who was the English manager in the 1986 Mexico World Cup.
After two weeks, he signed me and I was 15 years old and that's when I started my professional career in football. I played in many different positions as a youngster, forward, midfield and defender. But, I started in the defensive midfield role at Ipswich and later moved to playing in the back as a sweeper.

Did you have the support of your parents all through this time with respect to the interest shown by you in football?

I had very good parents; however they never saw me kick a ball in their life. Wanting to be a footballer was an honourable profession to them. But in our culture parents, at that time, would rather see their child as a doctor, engineer, etc. But, they supported me with love and I was head strong and my mind was made up.

How long did your career last in England and are there any highlights that you would like to share with our readers?

My career lasted only 4 years; it was a very difficult time in my life because of the obstacles that faced me to continue my dream.
While I was Ipswich, two of the players on the reserves were George Graham and Kevin Beattie. George played for Aston Villa and Arsenal. Kevin was the best player that never got to play for England. I remember playing against Trevor Booking, now Sir Trevor who played for West Ham United, and is now the director of football at the English FA. I also played with Graeme Souness, the player who played for Liverpool, and managed Glasgow Rangers. We played together when I first went to Montreal.

What prompted you to move to the US and play in the NASL (North American Soccer League)?

Because of those obstacles of racism, a friend of mine who had seen me play for Ipswich, asked if I would be interested in moving to Canada and playing there. I jumped at the chance. I played three years in Canada; two were with Montreal who were already in the NASL. I moved to America in 1974, when I left Montreal to sign for the Miami Toro's.

What was it like to train and play with some of the legends? Are there any specific incidents that you recall with them when you were team mates and other legends in the NASL?

When I came in to the NASL, there were many world class player's who came over, the likes of Pele, Carlos Alberto ,Beckenbauer, Best ,Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, who scored a hattrick in the 1966 World Cup. Eusebio, Johann Cryuff, Neskens Peter Bonnitt who played with me at St Louis, Gordon Banks who played in Florida, Rodney Marsh, and many others.
I was always asked by my coaches to mark the best player on the opposing side. When I was playing for Vancouver against Montreal in an exhibition game, I played right-back and mark their right winger, who was their main player. Funny enough, after that game Montreal coach bought me as he needed a defensive midfield player, who could sit in the middle of the field and win tackles. Good performance always opened up additional doors for me.
We played a team from Mexico called Vera Cruz, I had a good game and the coach asked me if I would be interested in playing for Vera Cruz. I didn't speak any Spanish than, so I was a bit reluctant to move across the border. While still playing for Montreal famous German coach Dettmar Cramer, told me after watching me that if was German I would be playing in Germany.
Against Pele, I remember a game where I was given the task of marking him. God smiled on me that day and I was able to bottle up him up and that day I was written up favourably in the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
I also remember playing against Beckenbauer. With every good sportsman, there comes the tough challenge of a balancing act between arrogance and being confident of yourself. Beckenbauer had the confidence of knowing he was good. Watching old clips of him play is great football education for kids.

Did you ever play against the Toronto Blizzards in the NASL? Do you have anything to share about playing against them as their coach at that time Bob Houghton is the current coach of Team India?

The Toronto Blizzard came in the 80's I believe, when I played in the NASL, they were called the Toronto Metro's, Bob Houghton was not coaching them then. Sorry.

How long did your career in the NASL last? What did you do after your NASL career?

My career in the NASL lasted about 8 years and than I went and played in the American soccer league, than I played in the Major Indoor soccer league. So, I would say that I played nearly 15 years as a professional. After my career, I started doing some coaching at youth clubs and also teaching new American coaches on how to coach football.

What coaching certifications have you obtained after your playing days? What have been your main coaching assignments since?

My coaching Certifications consist of: The English FA Preliminary Licence, The English FA full International Diploma and the USSF (United States Soccer Federation) B Licence.

Is there a reason that you have mainly focused on coaching the young?

Coaching young players are very essential and important to me because, they are the future of football for all domestic clubs, for all National programs all over the world. Great players come from youth programs and good football development, they don't come out of thin air. Effective coaching at this level is based on establishing correct attitudes, correct habits and correct movements. First, in order off Importance, is the attitude towards learning by both the coach and the player.

Have you ever been approached by an Indian football club or the federation to make use of your services or expertise? Have you ever offered your expertise to any Indian football team(s) or federation?

No, I have never been approached by the Indian football federation or any clubs at this point. I did offer my services to the federation some time ago but, not any clubs. It seems very difficult to get in contact with them at times.
I have reached out to the federation again recently and a few clubs too. If any other clubs are interested, they can reach me directly at rogkat2004@aol.com. I am open to both long terms as well as short term coaching clinics.

Have you followed Indian football? What are your impressions of football in India?

I have not followed much of the football in India, only what I read on IndianFootball.Com. It seems they are heading in the right direction, and only time and patience will bring some light at the end of the tunnel. It would be hard to comment on the standard of football unless I can see some games. However, I did see a short clip of the National team play Iran, and I was very surprised that the player's allowed the Iranian team so much time and space to play. At this level of international play, you cannot allow any team that much freedom.
Football is all about first "attitude" and second being "competitive". It's that simple.

I am not surprised that India has done so poorly at football. If you have most of players on a one year contract at the club level (that too first division), that contributes to players being exposed to many different coaches over their playing careers. The lack of consistency causes confusion in a players mind with the result that they are unsure and they become or remain mediocre players. And this is why I feel comfortable saying that from whatever clips I have seen of Indian football, I think any of the Under 18 teams that I have coached here in the US could easily beat the Indian national team.

Let me put it this way, if we had school children moving schools every year and getting used to new teachers, would we produce good students. If we had business executives changing jobs every year, would they ever have a chance to make a long term impact? The answer is a clear "NO". Football is no different. Without a 2 to 3 year contract in place, the clubs cannot form the nucleus of a good team. I am glad this issue is being addressed in the new Pro League guidelines but I am also amazed that it is being addressed in 2007 and not a few decades ago.
But of course longer term contracts for players without proper, innovative and fun coaching is pointless.

Any football coach that signs on to coach knowing that the players are signed on for only one year has no idea of football management. I think Indian football clubs need solid and stable sponsors that are able to bring some business sense to the clubs about investing in player development for two to three years. Otherwise, every one can keep going through the annual horse trading and the motions of trying to make a better team.

Sponsors also look for stability. One cannot expect a solid, consistent performance from the team if the players change every season. And sponsors like stability. Regarding sponsors, the point I am making is of two folds, one, a club cannot be successful, if they are not consistent year after year, secondly, sponsors aren't going to invest or promote the team, if they are not consistent week in week out. The reason teams like Manchester United, Chelsea and other top teams in Europe get big money from sponsors is the fact they are winners and consistent on the field. Therefore, you cannot build a team with players on one year contracts.

What do you think about IndianFootball.Com and its work?

I think IndianFootball.Com and its work is and has been the marketing tool for Indian football. It has given not only the clubs but, the National team a lot of exposure to a lot of people around the world. I would have never been interested in pursuing anything in football in India, because I had no idea what or if people in India even cared about football never mind playing it. What's exciting about IndianFootball.Com is that, people who are working to bring all the news have the passion for the game. It is all your enthusiasm, passion and the support that you people offer football in India will in the end help change things for the better. I believe that sponsors are needed for the game in India and IndianFootball.Com can help sponsors understand and see that football is a major sport around the world and could in the long term offer them a lot of marketing opportunities in the coming future.

Many, many thanks for granting us this interview and making us aware that an Indian has played football with some of the most famous footballers in the world.

the interview was conducted via eMail by Harmit Singh Kamboe (April 2007)

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