 "Ryan Williams scored on his India debut as Blue Tigers defeated Hong Kong in Kochi. Image: AIFF")
Tuesday (31 March) was a good day in Indian football. The men’s team won an international game for the first time in Kochi, won a match for the first time in almost seven months, and scored two goals from open play. But the highlight of India’s 2-1 win over Hong Kong in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers dead rubber was the goal from the latest debutant, Ryan Williams.
The 32-year-old Bengaluru FC winger broke free from his marker as early as the fourth minute to bury a well-timed cross by Manvir Singh from the right flank. Such was the wait for a goal by the Indian fans that stands at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi shook with infectious energy and cheers.
Akash Mishra scored the second goal for India, which converted Everton Camargo’s goal for the visitors into a consolation, and the hosts won for the first time in the city in front of a 22,690-strong crowd in Kochi.
This match would be remembered for many things, but most of all for India’s new 10 – Ryan Williams, who isn’t your ordinary Indian footballer. But an Australian-born winger who has played in the English Premier League for Portsmouth and Fulham.
Ryan Williams repays leap of faith with dream debut goal
The Perth-born Williams is a youth product of Portsmouth and has also played for top clubs like Barnsley and Perth Glory before moving to India in 2023 and joining Bengaluru in the Indian Super League (ISL). And his inclusion in the national team kicks off a new chapter in Indian football.
Fans have been demanding for a long time for AIFF to include Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) footballers in the national team to provide it the much-needed push, but it requires these players to give up on their overseas passports, as India does not allow dual citizenship.
This has proven to be the stumbling block for Indian-origin footballers, but not for Williams, whose mother was born in India. In that way, Williams is not a naturalised Indian, but has acquired citizenship through a family link.
Still, he had to make a big decision. To leave Australian citizenship to acquire an Indian passport. And he was motivated by his wife to make that sacrifice.
“All of my mum’s family — which is the Indian side of my family — are in Perth. That’s who I grew up with. So, when we went around my nana’s house, it was always Indian food and loads of uncles, aunties and cousins everywhere. There was always that importance to family, and coming to India and seeing that was kind of like putting two and two together,” Williams told Sportstar in an interview while explaining his love for India.
On his decision to acquire Indian passports, Williams told Sportstar: “It came to a point where it was actually my wife who said, ‘Why don’t you just get the passport and let’s stay here. Let’s really push for this.’ Without my wife, I don’t think this would have happened because at that time, everybody was telling me no, and we just said, ‘Let’s stay.’ And in the end, perseverance prevailed.”
Still, the universe has its own mysterious way of operating. Williams was close to making his India debut in Dhaka against Bangladesh last November, but a delay in the NOC (No Objection Certificate) spoiled things. That allowed him to eventually make his debut at home, in front of passionate Indian fans of Kochi, who welcomed Williams and the Indian team with a passionate rendition of Maa Tujhe Salaam.
“It’s a strange one. I have been having a dream about this one for a long time and done a lot of work to make this happen. You couldn’t write it, (debut) in Kerala, the home of football, scoring in five minutes and winning. That’s the main thing for us. To score means nothing if you don’t win. It’s incredible. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet. We will spend a couple of days enjoying it,” a delighted Williams told AIFF after India’s victory.
Will his memorable debut persuade more overseas Indians citizens to come back and play for the Indian football team? Only time will tell. But Williams’ debut goal and the victory over Hong Kong have definitely given some much-needed respite to Indian football fans.