‘Whatever it takes’: Canadian citizen Shaan Hundal would like to follow in Ryan Williams’ footsteps

Canadian passport holder Shaan Hundal hopes to one day represent India – the country of his parents. (Instagram) New Delhi: The Indian national football team is in crisis mode. After Mohun Bagan opted to withdraw seven of their players and Anwar Ali suffered an injury, the team that landed in London on May 24 looked depleted. One of those who made the trip is Ryan Williams. The 32-year-old grabbed attention by renouncing his Australian citizenship and taking an Indian passport, making him eligible to represent India.With India coach Khalid Jamil open to the idea and looking at more such options going forward, one player who is watching his phone is Shaan Hundal. But without the help of the dark process, the phone still won’t ring.Born to Punjabi parents, he is now a Canadian citizen and currently holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. The process of representing India requires him to spend a year in the country – an option he is not resisting.“I really want to come to India, play the (Indian) Super League, play for the national team. The main thing is to play for the national team. If I can do it, if I play in America or Canada and I can play for India, great. If I have to come to the Indian Super League to get a passport and then play for India, I will do it. I said it clearly. I will do whatever it takes,” I told the virtual newspaper Time. conversation.“But I need help from the federation (AIFF), or at least the federation (must) push a team in the Super League to bring me and then start the process of getting the passport. Whatever it takes, I’m open to it, but I feel there wasn’t enough push in India to bring me there,” he continued.

Shaan Hundal plays for Brooklyn FC in the USA. (Instagram)

Last year, the 26-year-old striker was close to joining Mohammedan Sporting. After lengthy fee negotiations, all parties were on board, but delays caused by inaccurate documentation led to the transfer falling through.On the personal front, there has already been an effort to follow this process. His father, who works in a trucking company in Canada, tried to find a connection to get his son an Indian passport and bypass the bureaucratic problem.But to no avail.Born in Ontario, Canada, Shaan took up the sport at the age of 3. In the beginning, football was not a serious career option. But when he was 13 years old and training at the Toronto FC Academy, things began to compare.He now works for Brooklyn FC, which competes in the second division of the American league structure. He played in several divisions in the US and Canada in his 10-year senior career. During this period he trained with former Juventus and Italy internationals Sebastian Giovinco and former US internationals Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

Shaan Hundal has played in several teams in the USA and Canada. (Instagram)

After 228 appearances across all competitions and scoring 60 goals, Hundal hopes a move to an ISL club is on the cards. He admitted interest from I-League clubs, but the move would put his career “sideways”.“As much as I want to play in India and play for the national team, I don’t want to take a step that is on the sidelines. It doesn’t make sense for my career because if I make such a big leap to India and go to the I-League and somehow not play for the national team, then the whole move doesn’t make sense,” said Hundal.“Whereas if I go to the Indian Super League then it’s worth it. The level is good. It’s a growing league. So the move is worth it even if the national team isn’t doing well. At least I can go to the Indian Super League and that’s a good step for my career.”“That’s why I talked to people and many clubs from the I-League showed interest, but I don’t want to go to the I-League. I tried if I can go to the Indian Super League first,” he added.A move to the ISL and then representing India is the ultimate goal for the 26-year-old, who is under contract with Brooklyn FC until December 2027. Finding a striker for the future is a priority for India. The combination of the two will only help Indian football forward.