'I want to do something for my roots'

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New Delhi: He comes from the land of Zinedine Zidane but looks every inch an Indian. It's one of the reasons former France World Cupper Vikash Dhorasoo, who among his multi-ethnic background traces his roots to India and loves everything about it, is so keen to do something for the game in this country.

The diminutive midfielder, who had played for Olympique Lyon and AC Milan among notable European clubs, had a meeting with FIFA president Sepp Blatter and expressed his desire to work with the world body on its 'Win in India with India' project.

Dhorasoo, along with India and East Bengal midfielder Renedy Singh, was in New Delhi as part of the initiative called Consortium for Street Children, aimed at spotting talents -- "we are not here to find the next Zidane" he clarified though. He also made it clear that his present trip has got nothing to do with FIFA.

"I went to FIFA to discuss the possibility of working together for the development of Indian football," said Dhorasoo, who played 18 times for the Les Blues.

Dhorasoo, who traces his ancestry to Vijaynagar, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, as well as Mauritius and was born in Le Havre, France, is aware of his multi ethnicity and said that was the reason he decided to do something for Indian football.

"I want to do something for my roots," said the 35-year-old adding, "I am here not for FIFA. I am here for myself because I wanted to do something for Indian football," Dhorasoo said.

Dhorasoo, who earned rave reviews for his docu-feature 'Substitute', filmed on a Super-8 camera that showed his frustration at having to spend most of his time warming the bench during the 2006 World Cup, reiterated his desire to forge a strong partnership with India.

"I have read a lot about Indian football and I hope to have a partnership going with India. If the football federation (AIFF) wants me, then I am always available," said Dhorasoo, who met AIFF officials informally prior to the start of a match involving street children in which the Frenchman also took part.

However, he maintained a lot of work needs to be done to improve the game's standard in India and it needs to start at the grassroots level.