WHY is it that many A-League clubs have not looked Asia's way when it comes to player recruitment?
Through the week I read a very interesting story on Indian football, including an interview with US-based FIFA player agent Eddie Rock.
Rock has signed three Indians to his Libero Sports Company and is confident he can get them a contract overseas.
"I received a call from Arvind Narayan (football player of Indian origin) when I was in Scandinavia, on business, this summer," he said.
Arvind explained that he has strong connections to players with the Indian national team and suggested they may be interested in moving abroad.
Rock added: "We've been working closely with Arvind over the past six months and recently signed Steven Dias, Subrata Pal and Lal Kamal Bhowmick.
"We see India as an emerging football market and we expect to have a permanent presence."
You see, ever since German heavyweights Bayern Munich's tour of India, football has been booming in the country with a population of over one billion.
There isn't currently an Indian footballer capable of starting for one of the top sides in the EPL, La Liga or Serie A, which can only be seen as a positive for A-League clubs because of the commercial potential available.
Responding to my e-mail Arunava Chaudhuri, Editor-In-Chief of IndianFootball.com said India currently knew nothing of the A-League and has little interest in the ACL.
"The A-League has no exposure as such in India," he said. "And the Asian Champions League has little following in our country.
"With Dempo losing this week against Sharjah and not making it to the Asian Champions League leaves the ACL with little continued coverage and interest."
It begs the question as to why A-league clubs have not looked this way in the past, with everything to gain out of signing or at least scouting the I-League.
The commercial potential is unbelievable with Indian football fans not being exposed to the A-League in the past and from NQ Fury's point of view Indian footballers would not struggle with the heat.
Besides, with unusual club names such as Air India, George Telegraph and Happy Entertainment, Indian footballers would feel right at home in the A-League.
Although a salary cap does not currently exist in the I-League, money would not play a major role for Indian footballers looking to make it in Europe with the MLS or even an associated feeder league.
"The aim of the international players is to make it to Europe," said Chaudhuri. "The US or maybe even Australia could be a stop in-between. And the salary as such wouldn't be the key issue."
It's not just India that has been overlooked by the A-League; many other leagues across Asia have talented players who would jump at the chance to come to Australia.
Assuming A-League clubs scouted well this would improve the overall standard of the league by introducing players with better tactical and technical standards.
With Dunfermline Athletic captain Scott Wilson likely to be confirmed as our fifth and final import, it leaves no room for an import from Asia further increasing the need for a 4 + 1 rule or maybe even in our case a 5 + 1 rule.
Looking into India or Asia for that matter can only benefit the A-League, because when a player such as James Robinson has taken up a foreigners spot at three different clubs you know there's improvement to be made.
++++
NQ Fury has conceded defeat in the battle to sign Socceroo Scott Chipperfield with the club not prepared to wait any longer for a decision.
++++
All the latest news and views on NQFFC at
www.nqfuryfcthejournal.blogspot.com
