Indian football duo head West for better prospects

National football team goalkeeper Subrata Paul left the country on Tuesday for Canada for a trials session with the Vancouver Whitecaps while defender Gouramangi Singh will head to Australia on Thursday to try his luck with new A-League side Melbourne Heart FC.

Paul will attend a 10-day trials with Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which will make their Major League Soccer (MLS) debut from next season (2011).

If the star goalkeeper impresses the Vancouver Whitecaps FC management he can join mid-season. The club plays in the second division this season.

The Pune FC player was scheduled to go for trials in April but postponed his departure till the end of I-League after he sustained injuries against Mumbai FC.

Paul could not sign a contract with the AIFF on Tuesday for the preparation of next January's Asian Cup in Doha.

"Paul could not sign the contract as he has left for trial," AIFF vice-president Subrata Dutta, one of the four officials who handled the contract issue, said.

Gouramangi, Churchill Brothers' defender, is leaving for Australia on Thursday evening for trial with Melbourne Heart FC from June 7-19. The club will make their A-League debut this season which starts in August

"I am leaving on Thursday for Australia and looking forward to the trials," he said.