The Goan club has offered Holyoak a contract paying in the region of �2,500 [Rs 2 lakhs] per month. He feels he will ultimately turn it down due to the huge cultural differences. "The conditions there and the way of life was not what I expected. I can see why it is a great place to visit, but to live there is something else."
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Headline: NON-LEAGUE: Prayers could be Daniels' answer. STAMFORD'S FA Trophy hopes are set to be aided by some divine intervention.
Dan Holyoak is back in the Daniels line-up for tomorrow's home tie with Willenhall after returning from a short spell playing in India.
And he believes it is time for manager Billy Jeffrey, who has only seen his side win three times in the Southern League this season, and the players to start saying their prayers.
The 21 year-old former Mansfield defender has spent the last month on trial with a team in Goa, where the local players said prayers before kick-off, again at half-time and once more at the final whistle.
Now Holyoak feels Stamford's run of bad luck might be transformed by turning to the gods.
He said: "The players pray for half-an-hour before every game and that includes practice games in training.
"They also pray again at the end of training and during half-time of the game.
"It is certainly something I am not used to, but I did join in, not that I could understand what was being said because it was all in Hindi.
"It would probably be a good idea if Stamford started saying some prayers as we have been so unlucky with injuries this season and could do with some help.
"But I know once we have got our best team available then everything will be all right."
Holyoak was offered the opportunity to join a team in Goa after his parents met a football agent while on holiday there in the summer.
He left Stamford for India to try out for one of the three 'import player' places up for grabs just before Christmas.
Though he was far from prepared for what awaited him on his arrival.
He said: "There are no grass pitches over there, they are all dirt pitches and a lot of the lads play in bare feet.
"It is quite an experience as all the teams are allowed three 'visa' players and they all wear the top gear and are well paid.
"But the local players don't get anything and were training in old bibs, shorts and normally no boots."
The club have offered him a contract. It is understood that Holyoak would be paid in the region of �2,500 per month and have his accommodation paid for during his stay.
It is an opportunity he is considering, but one he feels he will ultimately turn down due to the huge cultural differences.
He said: "It was a good experience and one worth doing. I have been offered the chance to go back which I am considering at the moment, but I think I will turn it down.
"The conditions there and the way of life was not what I expected. I can see why it is a great place to visit, but to live there is something else.
"It might be a bit different if there were other English players there, but I think it will be too much for me to go there on my own."
Stamford also hope to have Gary Butterworth available after injury, but lost out on signing Rushden & Diamonds striker Robert Duffy after Dean Holdsworth made a successful late bid to take him to Havant and Waterlooville.
Source: http://www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=846&ArticleID=920052
