Washington, D.C., USA: Two foreign-born footballers of Indian origin — former Australian winger Ryan Williams and Nepal-born defender Abneet Bharti — have been invited to take part in the senior men’s Indian national football team training camp in Bengaluru this month, as preparations begin for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh, according to a report by ESPN.
Sources within the All India Football Federation (AIFF) informed ESPN that Williams’ participation is awaiting official clearance. The federation is currently waiting for a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from Football Australia, his previous federation, before confirming his inclusion. The process is expected to be completed within the week.
Williams, who earned a single international cap for Australia in 2019 against South Korea, joined Bengaluru FC in 2023 after his stint with Perth Glory. Over the past year, he has been in the process of securing Indian citizenship, relocating his family to Bengaluru as part of the transition.
Since India does not permit dual citizenship, Williams had to surrender his Australian passport to become eligible to represent India. His eligibility stems from his mother’s Anglo-Indian roots—she was born in Mumbai, giving him a direct connection to Indian heritage. Interestingly, his twin brother Aryn Williams, who played briefly for NEROCA FC, had earlier expressed his ambition to play for India in a 2017 interview, though his plans were disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, defender Abneet Bharti has been invited to the camp on a trial basis, and his selection will depend on his performance during the training sessions in Bengaluru.
Bharti, who is eligible to represent both Nepal and India, currently plays for Academia del Balompie Boliviano in Bolivia, on loan from the Czech club FK Varnsdorf. His football journey began at the age of 14 when he joined the Geylang International Academy in Singapore back in 2012.
Both players bring significant international exposure to India’s football setup — Williams is known for his speed and goal-scoring ability, while Bharti adds strength and versatility in defence, potentially bolstering the team’s backline for the upcoming fixtures.
