Ryan Williams To Join Indian Football Team: The Indian Football team is all set to welcome Ryan Williams, a former Australian National, to their team just as the AFC Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place on November 18th, is around the corner, where the Indian Football team will be playing against Bangladesh in Dhaka. This could be a bold new and significant chapter for the entire team, but it is sure to bring fresh experience for everyone.
Who is Ryan Williams?
Ryan Williams was born in Perth, Western Australia, on 28th October 1993. His mother, however, belongs to an Anglo Indian family in Mumbai, which gives him Indian roots. England was where he started his early career, where he did stints at Portsmouth F.C. and Fulham F.C., but later came back to Australia before ultimately signing in the Indian Super League in 2023 with Bengaluru FC. He plays as a midfielder.
Before this, Williams has internationally represented Australia at the U-20 and U-23 levels.
Turning to the Indian Football Team
Ryan had been trying to acquire Indian citizenship for over a year and had to ultimately relinquish his Australian passport to qualify for Indian citizenship.
What provided the heritage basis for his eligibility was the fact that his mother’s Anglo-Indian roots trace back to Mumbai, and that his grandfather also played in the Santosh Trophy or Bombay during the 1950s.
His addition to the Indian Football Team surely brings global football experience and can be a valuable boost to the team, especially with the team looking for quality talent to add.
What the Indian Football Team can expect with his addition
Though his final administrative clearance is still pending from his former national association, it can not be ascertained if he can be expected to play in the qualifiers against Bangladesh. However, once all the administrative formalities are complete, his presence would act as a precedent for other players who also have indian origin to make switches similar to his. Nepal-born defender Abneet Bharti has also been called ahead for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier.
This development could truly be game-changing for the future of the Indian Football team. Kalyan Chaubey has been seen talking about scouting talent of Indian-origin from all around the world to strengthen the Indian Football team quite frequently, and this step seems to be the first step in that direction.
Read More
READ MORE: Top 4 Tennis Players Who Built Successful Brands Outside the Court
