Go to sleep with football, Carlos Alberto Torres tells youngsters

Kolkata: It's not only play football, but also sleep football, literally, is what Brazilian World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto Torres' mantra to the Indian youngsters who want to make it big in the sport.

"Everybody knows how to dribble but to touch the ball fast and pass it long or short is a problem. That's why I insist on practice, practice and practice.

"Go to sleep with the ball. Take the ball to the bed and use it as a pillow. This is very important to realise your dreams. You have to keep repeating: 'I want to be a football player'," Torres said.

The 69-year-old legendary defender cited the examples of Lionel Messi and Neymar and said there was no short cut to practice.

"I got to tell you one thing. This guy Messi -- he was 12 or 13 or 14 years old when he left Argentina and went to Spain to live his dream. At that young age, he started to practice, practice and just practice. Today, he's one of the best players in the world.

"There's Neymar. I know him personally. His father was my friend. When he was 10 or 11, nobody knew about him in Brazil. Then we took him to Santos, then he started to practice, practice and practice. Today, he's also among the best players in the world," the legendary Brazilian defender said.

Torres remembered how he went against his father's wish and strived to become a footballer at a young age of 15.

"I started playing football with my friends when I was 15. My parents were against the idea to see me as a footballer. They would say 'there's no money'. I convinced my father to let me play football.

"In two years time, I was in the Brazil national team. Why? Because I was able to convince them that I wanted to become a footballer," he recalled.

"Some might say we here don't play the sport as much as you do. But hey don't think like this. I lived football for 50 years. I played for 22 years and then I was a coach of Nigeria, Oman, Azerbaijan national teams. One day I decided not to coach anymore and instead stay in Brazil and work for the federation," Torres added.The 1970 World Cup winning captain further said the road map for India is just hard work.

"Football means hard work. If you don't work, it can be delayed always. Everyday you learn something from football. Football today is developing a lot. Today we must convince the players how important is to work everyday.

"In Brazil, why we have very good players is because they start work with kids with 9-10 years old. There has to be a solid foundation," he insisted.

"You have to keep working hard. If you work with them everyday, everyday and everyday, they would be one two watch out for one day."

Delighted to be here, Carlos mooted exchange programme of players and coaches with Brazil.

"We would like to bring here young Brazilian players to practice with them and also take these boys there. Not only players, we can have a similar exchange programme for the coaches as well.

"I see a great support and I'm very confident with the U-17 World Cup, it will be great for the future of Indian football," Carlos said about India hosting the U-17 World Cup in 2017.

Carlos will conduct a one-hour training session for the young trainees along with a few AIFF campers and some underprivileged children from an NGO at the Geetanjali Stadium tomorrow from 10.30am.

The former Brazilian captain was here in the FIFA World Cup Trophy's India stop over in Kolkata in its 95,000km journey, spanning 88 countries before finally reaching Brazil.

The 63.5kg real gold World Cup trophy was displayed at the Police Ground for a special public display as thousands gathered to have a glimpse and take photographs with the most coveted world title.