Unable to get back to ailing mother: Real Kashmir coach stuck in India during coronavirus lockdown

It was the love for football and Kashmir that brought David Robertson back to India after he went back home a few weeks into his new job as the manager of Real Kashmir Football Club.

The Scot, a former Rangers and Leeds United left-back, has taken the I-League side past several hurdles, including the communication clampdown in the Valley, in the past but the Covid-19 crisis has not been easy for the club and its manager.

David Robertson, speaking to indiatoday.in, said being far away from his ailing mother who has undergone chemotherapy is difficult a situation to handle for him and his family. Robertson's son Mason, who plays for Real Kashmir, and his wife are also stuck with him.

India is on a 21-day lockdown as the government announced curfews to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus which has brought normal lives to a grinding halt. As of April 3, more than 2500 have been infected by the virus which has led to more than 70 fatalities.

Fortunately, Robertson and 2 of his assistant coaches along with 6 foreign players have been put in Real Kashmir owner Sandeep Chatto's hotel in Srinagar. However, staying in touch with his ailing mother is a cause for concern. Robertson's father and 2 of his children are back home with his mother and the Scot has been able to communicate with them via phone. However, call drops and the occasional power cuts are not helping their cause.

'Want to get back home, be close to my mother'

"It's obviously very difficult, worried about everyone else. The lockdown in India and the cancellation of international flights and domestic flights. We are stranded here in the owner's hotel. A few of our players left. We have absolutely nothing to do but stay in our hotel rooms. We have been locked inside for the last 14-15 days," David Robertson said.

"It's worrying as well as some of the players have got young kids at home. Okay, my wife is here and my son is here but we have got 2 other kids in Aberdeen in Scotland. My mother is undergoing chemotherapy as well. Being so far away is so much worry.

"The network is not strong enough to do video calls. And like everyone else, we don't know when this is going to end, get back home or anything.

"We can do voice calls but again there are some call drops. And the occasional power cuts here are not making things easy. My father and my mother are together. We want to get home and be close enough to them. It's hard going here."

Robertson joined Real Kashmir FC in 2017 when the side was playing in the I-League 2nd division. He was instrumental in helping Real Kashmir gain promotion to the top-flight. Under the Scot, Real Kashmir finished as high as 3rd in their I-League debut and were at the 4th spot before the ongoing season was suspended due to Covid-19 pandemic.

While Robertson is flooded with thoughts about getting back home, the lack of football even at dinner tables during the lockdown is giving him an uneasy feeling.

"In the hotel, the players can't do anything. They are trying to keep themselves fit in the gym. But things are very limited. The days are long and everybody is worried about home," Robertson said.

"No one is even talking about football. Day by day, it's getting difficult. That's how bad it is."

In constant touch with the embassies: Real Kashmir co-owner Sandeep

Speaking to indiatoday.in, Real Kashmir Football Club co-owner Sandeep Chattoo said he is in constant touch with officials from the government and that he has heard that chartered flights are coming from the UK to evacuate a few of their nationals.

However, Chattoo said he is figuring out how to get the foriegn player and the coaches from Srinagar to New Delhi amid the lockdown.

"We are trying to be as safe as possible by staying put at the hotel. The hotel is also the headquarters of RKFC. Just before the lockdown, the Indian players were given a choice, they all left. I am staying with the foreign players and the coaches," Sandeep said.

"David's wife came here in March. She wanted to stay back and return once the season was over. Now she is also stuck with us. We are trying to get them back. We are in touch with the embassies. I have heard that they are trying to charter some flights to get people back. As of now, we have not heard anything from them.

"We are in constant touch, trying to know what's happening. Another thing is even if there is a flight, which we have heard is from Delhi in a couple of day's time, we are wondering how to get them to Delhi."