Although India will not be a part of the 2022 Football World Cup in Qatar, there will definitely be Indian representation at football’s biggest event in the form of Vinay Menon, who is Belgium’s wellness coach. The Kerala man will be looking after the physical, mental, and collective well-being of the Red Devils.
The 48-year-old has worked for Chelsea between 2008 and 2021. He was a key part of the teams that won the UEFA Champions League in the 2011–12 and 2020–21 seasons.
Vinay is hoping for support from his home nation of India and wishes to be a part of the Indian national team in a similar capacity in the near future, and also hoped that Indians travelling to Qatar for the World Cup would come and support Belgium.
”India might not have a team yet in the World Cup, but I hope that all Indians who are travelling to Qatar for the matches will come and support Belgium. If Belgium, with a population of 11 million, can make it to the World Cup, there’s no reason why India with a population of 1.3 billion, can’t,”
he said.
Vinay began his career in the town of Cherai near Ernakulam, Kerala, and then earned his MPhil in physical education from Pondicherry University. He then moved to Pune to complete his studies in yoga science at the Kaivalydhan Institute before working as an instructor in a five-star resort in Dubai.
“I believe that India can play the World Cup by 2030, and if and when that happens, I would very much like to lend my expertise to the national team,”
he added.
Belgium is grouped with Canada, Morocco and Croatia. On November 23, they will take on the Canadians at the Al-Rayyan Stadium.
