Female physio keeps Air India footballers kicking

"Is my job glamourous? Not at all!" laughs Sue Fernandes, Air India physio, and the only girl on an Indian football team.

"It's a lot of hard work and a lot of sweat, and with the players a lot of stink!"

The 25-year-old Fernandes, who works at the Nanavati Hospital in northwest Mumbai when she is not running around the football turf, is in her second season with Air India, following in the footsteps of her former colleague, Kruti Parekh.

"Kruti was the pioneer, she paved the way for me," says Fernandes.

"Air India and Nanavati Hospital have a tie-up (whereby the team draws its physios from the hospital). When she resigned last year I approached them; it was a once in a liftetime opportunity for me. I had been to football matches before, but now sitting on the bench with the players is truly an honour."

"I'm pretty okay with it," she says of her new role, "it's up to the players how they take it."

"Since Kruti was there earlier they are a little more used to having a girl on the team than the others."

Though 'home' crowds in Mumbai are getting used to seeing the pony-tailed, petite 'doc' walk out with the Air India team, the matches outside are tougher.

"Yeah, earlier I used to get a little hassled. People used to whistle and shout 'Hey Doc!', but nothing smart-ass. You just have to ignore all that and concentrate on your work. The crowd in Mumbai is pretty okay, but outside, in places like Kolkata, they tend to be very rough, especially if their team is losing."

Apart from the thrills of being on a football team, Fernandes says seeing the players she has treated go out there and make a good shot or pass or stop gives keeps her motivated. Though she is not employed by the club, her work extends to off-site treatments at times.

"I do feel part of the team. At the end of the day when they win, you feel good about the work you've done. It's like treating patients and being satisfied to see them doing well."