Vlaar bats for fairness, education, empowerment

PUNE: Dutch central defender Ron Vlaar is concerned about the Fifa bribery scandal and its impact on the future of football. "Everything should be fair," said the 30-year-old. "There's no proof so it's hard to say anything about it. I read some stories, and it can be true or it cannot be true. I hope it's fair. Because if it's not, it's damage to the sport.Vlaar, though, knows life can't always be fair. He was a part of The Netherlands team that reached the World Cup semifinal in Brazil last year before losing to Argentina in the penalty shootout. He took the first kick which was saved by keeper Sergio Romero. "I played the best game of my life, so far, against Argentina. If you take a penalty, you have to score but it didn't happen. I was not happy of course.There were no jitters but it was a new situation for me," said Vlaar.He had experienced a defeat via shootout in the U-20 World Cup quarterfinals against Nigeria in 2005 too.He had scored in regulation time on that occasion.Vlaar doesn't accept that the Oranje team are chokers. "But there's a difference between willing to win a game and really really willing to win the game."Nevertheless, Vlaar has got the accolades for his performance and was labelled as one of the best defenders at the Brazil World Cup. He started in all seven matches, something which he attributes to his fitness. He started his football career as a striker but then chose to be a defender, his sturdy big figure contributing to the decision.He is an ambassador and contributes monetarily as well to a Dutch NGO called Yojana. Their 'Project hulp India' is active in rural parts of India. The defender is in India visiting a few cities linked with the NGO.He visited Hospet in Karnataka and also Kerwadi village in Parbhani district. "India is a beautiful country with so many opportunities. The children are the future of the country," he added.Vlaar played for Aston Villa in the EPL until the end of this season and is a free agent now.He is not well versed with Indian football though he is aware of the ISL and the influx of some big European names in it."I've heard that the U-17 World Cup is coming to India in two years.If children see that, it will fire their imagination and they could begin to dream (big). That's what I'm trying to do through Yojana. To help children and women here with education to think differently ."Dutch football school is pretty big in the world tactically and technically .We have to take steps to make our product of football better. We are a small country so we don't have the biggest league. We have to be smart and invest in other things. I always try to compare Holland with India. Everything is just too easy in Holland now. All the responsibilities are taken care off for the players."On his Indian experience, he said: "A lot of things have touched my heart. I've seen children playing games and the smile on their faces and the team work they have. Besides that, there was a girls' group in Hospet which really made a big impact on me. They are 14-16 year olds and they were talking about marriage and that they didn't want it to happen so early. They were intelligent girls but seemed to have no choice but submit to what is going to happen."Vlaar is keen to make a difference.