Bengaluru FC’s new midfielder Joshua Walker spoke to BBC Sport in a recent interview and revealed that India in general offered something different to the places where he had played his football, a factor that convinced him to join the I-League Champions.
Walker, who joined from Conference side Gateshead, has been playing in a holding midfielder role thus far and has impressed for his side. Walker told BBC Inside Out, “India was somewhere I’d never even thought of going on holiday, let alone to play football.
“The things I was being offered to stay in the United Kingdom, I thought, it’s time to try something new. It’s different, sights you see on the road and the street. You might find a few cats on the streets in England but here you see a load of cows just roaming the streets.
Walker joined John Johnson at the club and the duo know each other after spending time together at the Middlesbrough academy. The 25-year old admitted that he had no clue about Indian football until Johnson made the move there. Walker also said that he was impressed with the quality of football and the support that his side have got, “The fans are that fanatical, you’re known. It makes you more professional because you’re an idol to them.
“The football is a lot better than what I imagined. I didn’t know anything about Indian football until John came out here. Since I’ve been here there’s some real talent, we’ve got some good young Indian players and the Indian captain.”
Having played for nine clubs before joining Bengaluru FC, Walker admitted that the chance to play for Bengaluru FC was something that he couldn’t turn down. Although he misses his two-year-old daughter, Walker could become a household name in Indian football if he continues his good form that he has shown in the Federation Cup and more recently in the I-League, “I don’t have any regrets about coming, not at all. It’s incredibly hard missing my daughter and I miss her everyday but at the end of the day I’ve got to work and this is my job.
“My career was going nowhere back home. I got an opportunity here and I’m going to grab it with both hands.”
Bengaluru picked up their first win at home against Kalyani Bharat FC last Sunday and will once again want to put in a winning performance when they take on Shillong Lajong this Saturday.
Image credit: Bengalurufc.com