As the new season of the Indian Super League (ISL) is just around the corner, Jamshedpur FC will be hoping to bounce back after poor performances in the previous two seasons. To bolster their attack, the club have brought back the Australian forward Jordan Murray in hopes that his addition to the front-lines could be the difference.
The 28-year-old striker, who has been around several Indian clubs, made his return to the side. He was also part of the 2020-21 squad that won the ISL League Winners Shield. Now under the management of Khalid Jamil, the Red Miners will aim to get back in contention for a title. With the best ahead of him as Murray hits his prime athletic years, The Men of Steel could be a force to reckon with, giving some tough competitions to the better sides in the Indian Super League.
In an exclusive interaction with News18 Sports, Jordan Murray speaks about his goals for the upcoming season, reuniting with Jamshedpur FC and his experience playing football in India.
Excerpts from the Interview
You’ve been with a club in the 2021/22 season and this being your second stint with Jamshedpur FC, what would you say are the notable differences you’ve seen in the club?
I think it’s a very difficult question because when I was with Jamshedpur FC, it was in the bubble. I would that was the biggest difference. The last time I was with the club we were a lot closer living together, everything was together. From training to going to games to coming back to the hotel. To now be at the at the complex with the training ground, the pool, all the facilities, its great. But I’m enjoying it just as much as I was when I was in the bubble there.
Meeting the local people, being a part of Jamshedpur, and being at the stadium now makes me feel closer to the community and is a noticeable difference. It’s still early on to know the difference football-wise. For me, it’s just about training, and getting to know my current teammates. I’ve played with a few here already and, I know a lot of the backroom staff and the management. I know what the expectations are of the club. For me, it’s to try and fill that and do the best I can for the club.
You’ve been in Indian football for quite some time now across several different clubs. How would you sum up your time in India along with what you’ve seen from the Indian players from across all the clubs?
Yeah, I’ve been lucky enough to play for a couple of clubs here now in India. All the clubs I’ve enjoyed being at. The biggest thing I’ve enjoyed is the football. The growth of football in India from when I first came to Kerala to now at Jamshedpur, my second stint here. Football’s grown. It’s developed, it’s allowed young players to flourish and to get Indian football on the map because I think that’s the biggest thing that I’ve found is that Indian football hasn’t been on the map in the world.
And now I think India has a really good opportunity in terms of the national team with Manolo. He’s a fantastic guy, number one, but he’s also a great coach and everyone’s seen his work at multiple clubs. This is a really good opportunity for India to do well. But in terms of the league, I think India’s grown with football. It’s allowed young players, to become a name, older players to teach younger players and the foreign players coming in are enjoying it.
There are many Australians now coming here. I was one of the only few to come to India at first and I had no regrets about that. I loved every second of being here. It’s practically my second home but I’ve been lucky enough to play for some fantastic clubs with some rich history, I’m hoping that I can bring another title to Jamshedpur and another really good season and promote young players coming through, hopefully, have these young players at this club playing for the national team.
What are the objectives that you have assigned for yourself and the club as a whole?
Every footballer has certain goals, whether it’s in life or sport. For me, my goal is to be the top goal scorer in the league. I say that every year and try to get as many goals as possible, not only for myself but for the team because I know that every goal helps the team get further towards success.
Whether it’s an assist, whether it’s making runs or unselfish runs for other people to score, whether it’s being on the bench and supporting my teammates or in the stands. For me, it’s being a club player, being a player where I can help and do the very best I can for myself and my personal goals.
The only way of doing that is for all of us a being a team and help one another understand the philosophy that Coach Khalid put on for us and to implement that on the field.
The club will have high expectations and where they want to be and that’s a no-brainer as every club should. For us, it is to make the best of what we have in every game and to I guess learn from what’s happened recently and to make sure that we don’t let that happen again.