Brazilian footballing legend Cafú has called for greater focus on grassroots development, youth training and sporting infrastructure as India looks to build a stronger presence in global football.
The former Brazil captain and two-time FIFA World Cup winner made the remarks during a two-day visit to Bengal that took him from Darjeeling’s football fields to an industry gathering in Kolkata.
Cafú began his visit on Sunday in Darjeeling, where he met young footballers and fans at the Gorkha Stadium in Lebong.
His arrival drew a large crowd, with youngsters eager to meet the player who lifted the World Cup as Brazil’s captain in 2002. He interacted with local players and took part in an exhibition match as well, sharing his experience of a career that included four World Cup appearances.
His advice to the youngsters was straightforward: to remain focused on their goals, work hard, and not neglect education while pursuing football.
The following day, Cafú was in Kolkata for an interactive session hosted by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) on 'The Future of Football in India'.
The discussion looked at what India needs to build a football ecosystem capable of producing players, creating sporting careers, and attracting greater international opportunities.
The business potential of football was another important theme. Satyam Roy Choudhury, Co-founder and Managing Director of the Techno India Group, spoke about the growing opportunities where sport intersects with education, technology, entrepreneurship, and youth development.
Jhargram featured prominently in the discussions. BNCCI announced its engagement with the district to explore sports-led tourism and youth enterprise, drawing on its young population, tribal heritage, natural landscape and cultural identity.
The proposed initiative aims to create opportunities around academies, training, sporting events, hospitality, tourism, local products, adventure activities and other sports-related services. Several ministers and MLAs from the Jhargram region attended the programme.
The formal discussions gave way to a more relaxed exchange when former Indian footballer José Ramirez Barreto joined Cafú for a rapid-fire session. When asked which legendary player he would have liked to play alongside, Cafú chose Diego Maradona. When asked to choose between Romário and Ronaldo, he opted for Ronaldo, describing him as the tougher player.
The former right-back also revealed that if he were playing in today's game, he would prefer to play as a striker.
But one question took him straight back to the defining moment of his career—a question on his most memorable experience in football. His answer was holding the World Cup.
His visit to Kolkata carried particular significance because of the city's unique relationship with football. Kolkata has long been described as the Mecca of Indian football, with the traditions of Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting deeply embedded in its sporting culture.
At the BNCCI programme, Cafú was felicitated by Commerce and Industry Minister Tapas Roy and Satyam Roy Choudhury presented him with an idol of Goddess Saraswati and a traditional kantha work stole. Cafú later signed jerseys for fans and photographs with supporters who gathered around him.
He said he was happy to be in Kolkata and would return if the opportunity arose.
For Bengal, Cafú's two-day visit connected the grassroots enthusiasm of Darjeeling with Kolkata's football tradition and a larger national conversation about the future of the sport.
