ISL: Shunned in Korea, Bengaluru FC's Erik Paartalu looks to prove doubters wrong vs Chennaiyin FC

Bengaluru, March 15: Two years ago, Erik Paartalu was a lonely figure in South Korea, where he was playing for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He was ostracized from the side and forced to train alone by his coach there, Choi Kang-hee, who felt midfielder Paartalu was too slow for the pacey K-League. Cut to 2018, Paartalu has moved on from the nightmare in Korea, experienced another nuclear missile scare in North Korea and has survived that to reach the final of the Indian Super League with Bengaluru FC. A win against Chennaiyin FC in the final this Saturday (March 17) at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium will be redemption for all that he has been through, he says.

"Football is never rosy," Paartalu, who was pushing into leaving AFC Champions League winners Jeonbuk after the episode, said on Thursday (March 15). "People's careers have their share of ups and downs. In 2016, I was at the best club in Asia and then 12 months later, I was without a club for four-five months. It has been a roller-coaster ride and I have kept myself mentally sane."

The Sydney-born midfielder requested his partner (now wife) Amy to film him during training and approached FIFA with a tape that showed him being made to wait for an hour and asked to do a gruelling session alone at Jeonbuk. FIFA asked Jeonbuk to get its act right. Paartalu, the enemy in the eyes of the club, had to take a pay cut to just leave Korea or see out his contract in those unwelcome conditions. He went to a bottom-placed club in Qatar, Al Kharaityat, saw out the contract until summer before moving to Bengaluru FC. The tough times he has been through makes him push that extra for the ISL championship Cup this weekend.

"You could say Korea was a testing time in my life," he said. "I think I am here at this place now because of that experience. It has made me much stronger mentally. I know how precious football is and the time we have with football. I cherish every moment on the pitch and my performance reflects that. I give my everything. If I win the ISL this year, it will be like the icing on the cake and will definitely be like a redemption."

As we build-up to the final, we take a glance at the roles your heroes have played in the @IndSuperLeague this far. #OursToWrite pic.twitter.com/ZJO6zPPqSF

— Bengaluru FC (@bengalurufc) March 15, 2018

Through the discrimination, Paartalu had wife Amy to count on. He says that it was her talk that helped him overcome the difficulties in Korea and Middle East. "She juggled with me around the world," Paartalu said. "She gave up her job as a PT teacher. Basically, from the time she got her degree and job, she had to leave that and come with me. She chose that and we've gone to five countries since then. It hasn't been easy for her to adjust. But we wouldn't want to change that because we learnt a lot about different cultures around the world.

"In the tough times, she's the one who gets me out of bed and keeps me motivated. She distracts me if I am upset. She knows me well and I try to push myself to perform for her as well."

Seven years ago today...we hope you didn't leave early 😉🏆 #OrangeSunday @ALeague pic.twitter.com/3wbq9p82S9

— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) March 13, 2018

In a sense, Paartalu, 31, has been the journeyman in Asian football. Apart from the experience in Qatar and Korea, Paartalu has had stints in China (Tianjin TEDA FC) and Thailand (Muangthong United FC), apart from his home country Australia - Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City. Along with Bengaluru FC, he has travelled to Tajikistan (to play FC Istiklol), North Korea (an AFC Cup match against 4.25 Sports Club) and Maldives (to play TC Sports Club). The future is sure to take him to Bangladesh too, where Bengaluru FC are drawn to play Abahani Dhaka. Life is always on the move for Paartalu but he knows it's time to settle down. It's a no-brainer that he chose Bengaluru FC, favourites to win the ISL title, as the club to spend some time in, having extended his contract until the end of the 2020 season.

"Probably if I had settled, I wouldn't have played for so many clubs," Paartalu said. "I would have loved to stay in one place but it has not worked out that way. You have got to roll with it. And now I am with BFC, so I am happy to continue."

Two days to go for the final, Paartalu wishes to add another goal to his ISL tally. He has three so far and all of them have come from set-pieces. A fourth one in the final against home fans in a winning cause would be just lovely, he says.

"Miku and Sunil (Chhetri) scored the goals but there has been a lot going on behind it. We're making the chances to score. I am happy with it and I would love to score this weekend. I think everyone will love to be on the scoresheet but if we hold the trophy, it's because of a great collective effort. I have been that player before with most passes who has scored more than other midfielders, but it's nothing without a trophy."