ELATED AT BECOMING THE FIRST TURKISH international to join hands with ISL, former Stoke City forward Tuncay Sanli today said that seeing top players deciding to ply their trade in India prompted him to join FC Pune City.
The 33-year-old Tuncay is part of a string of high-profile signings by the Hrithik Roshan co-owned team for season two of the Indian Super League. The Turkish is eager to rub shoulders with the club's top picks like Adrian Mutu, Didier Zokora and Nicky Shorey.
"This is a conscious decision, because I have been in contact with people here and India was in my mind over a year now. Also I have seen many good players going to India and it also had a positive effect on my decision making, which I have given consciously. I am going to be the first Turkish football player to go to India and I will cherish this as a very special position," Tuncay told PTI during an interaction.
"I am looking forward to be part of the team, because there are many players whom I know in person. The goalkeeper (Steve Simonsen) as well as Didier Zokora are the guys whom I have played with that's why I know the level of football is going to be top level and I am going to be ready for that challenge," he added.
He played an instrumental role in Fenerbahce's three Super Lig title-winning campaigns.
Even though Pune ended last in the inaugural edition, which was won by Atletico de Kolkata, Tuncay has faith in the team's potential.
"I know the potential of Pune FC as a team and I know they have all the good qualities to be successful in the league. And with David Platt at the helm, whom I have known for a long time, it has been a good decision to come here because I know that Pune FC have good ambitions for football in India.
"With the new signings and with Platt's direction, the team will go in the right direction and at the end of the season hopefully it will be a success story and I will be a part of it," he said.