ISL is a fantastic concept: Ivory Coast's WC star

New Delhi: With more than 100 international caps in his kitty, Didier Zokora will be one of the most experienced players when he turns out for FC Pune City in the Indian Super League and the Ivory Coast World Cupper feels ISL is a "fantastic" concept and he did not have to think much to join it.

"ISL is a fantastic concept for Indian football and having played in Africa and Europe, I was very happy to have got the offer to play in India. I want to contribute in Indian football," Zokora told PTI from Pune.

The 34-year-old Zokora, who has turned out 123 times in Ivory Coast colours besides playing for Tottenham Hotspur in English Premier League and Sevilla in La Liga, said he was excited to have come to a new country.

"India is a new place for me and I believe this country should come up in football. I have enjoyed training with the Indian players in Turkey under very good facilities. The atmosphere is very good and we have gelled well as a group," he said.

"The Indian players in my team are a talented lot and they need this kind of exposure (foreign training) and playing along with international players."

Zokora, who also had club stints with AS Saint Etienne (France top division side) and Trabzonspor and Akhisar Belediyespor (both Turkish top tier sides), was also upbeat about the chances of FC Pune City in this edition of ISL, though they finished sixth out of the eight teams last year.

"We have a very good team with the likes of Adrian Mutu and other international players who have played in top leagues in Europe and other countries. We have some very talented Indian players," said Zokora who normally plays as defensive midfielder.

"I think we can do very well this year under David Platt who is also a very experienced person as a player and as a coach. We can go all the way this time," he added.

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