'Whatever it takes': Canadian citizen Shaan Hundal keen on following in Ryan Williams' footsteps

New Delhi: India's national football team is in a crisis mode. After Mohun Bagan decided to withdraw seven of their players, and Anwar Ali suffered an injury, the squad that landed in London on May 24 looked depleted. One of those who made the trip is Ryan Williams. The 32-year-old captured the limelight by giving up his Australian citizenship and taking up an Indian passport, making him eligible to represent India.

With India coach Khalid Jamil open to the idea and looking at more such options for the future, one player keeping an eye on his phone is Shaan Hundal.



But, helped in no part by the murky process, the phone is yet to ring.

Born to Punjabi parents and now a Canadian citizen, he currently holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card. The process to represent India requires him to spend a year in the country - an option he is not averse to.

"I really want to come to India, play in the (Indian) Super League, play for the national team. The main thing is playing for the national team. If I can do that while playing in America or Canada, and I can play for India, great. If I have to come to the Indian Super League to get the passport and then play for India, I'll do that. I (have) made it clear, whatever it takes, I'll do," Hundal told TimesofIndia.com in a virtual conversation.

"But I need help from the federation (AIFF), or at least the federation (needs to) push a team in the Super League to bring me over and then start the process of getting the passport. Whatever it takes, I'm open to doing, but I feel like there hasn't been enough push from whoever needs to push in India to bring me there," he continued.

Last year, the 26-year-old striker was close to joining Mohammedan Sporting. All parties were on board after lengthy fee negotiations, but delays caused by inaccurate paperwork resulted in the transfer falling through.

There has already been an effort to abide by the process on a personal front. His father, who works in a trucking company in Canada, has tried to find a connection to get his son an Indian passport and circumvent the bureaucratic logjam.

But to no avail.

Shaan, born in Ontario, Canada, was introduced to the sport as a 3-year-old. Early on, football wasn't a serious career option. But as he turned 13 and trained at the Toronto FC Academy, things started to align.

He now plies his trade at Brooklyn FC, which competes in the second division of the US league structure. In his 10-year senior career, he has played in multiple divisions in the USA and Canada. During this period, he's trained with the likes of ex-Juventus and Italy international Sebastian Giovinco and former USA national team players Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley.

Having made 228 appearances across competitions and scored 60 goals, Hundal is hopeful that a move to an ISL club is on the cards. He acknowledged 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 make a move that's sideways. It doesn't make sense for my career because if I make such a big jump to India and I go to the I-League and somehow I'm not playing for the national team, then the whole move, there's no point," said Hundal.

"Whereas if I go to the Indian Super League, then it's worth it. The level's good. It's a growing league. So it's worth the move even if the national team doesn't work out. At least I can go to the Indian Super League, and it's a good move for my career.



"That's why I've been speaking to people, and there's been a lot of I-League clubs interested, but I don't want to go to the I-League. I've been trying to see if I can go to the Indian Super League first," he added.

For the 26-year-old, who is under contract with Brooklyn FC until December 2027, moving to the ISL and then representing India is the ultimate goal. For India, finding a striker for the future is a priority.

Bringing the two together will only help Indian football forward.

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