The world’s media descended on the second most populated country in April as a raft of international stars announced their intention to form part of the brand new competition in the hussle and bustle of India’s sprawling cities.

In the back-drop of all the media hype one Scot watched the drama unfold from his Indian sitting room. Linwood born and raised, Darryl Duffy has experienced football at the highest level.

The former Rangers kid has played in the Champions League, experienced top flight football with Falkirk, and has been signed by the likes of Hull City, Swansea City and Bristol Rovers south of the border.

However after becoming disillusioned with the British game, Duffy took matters into his own hands in August last year and upped sticks to India’s smallest state, Goa, to sign for I-League side Salgaocar.

Duffy explained to Gazette Sport: “The move all came through a mate of mine, Alan Gow, who used to play for Falkirk and Rangers. He spent six months out here with East Bengal and recommended it to me after we had a chat in January 2013.

“I knocked it back at the time as I still felt I had too much to offer to the British game. But the following summer I left Cheltenham Town on the back of a season on the bench.

“I was fed up with British football and British managers in general — the whole way of football, to me anyway, was changing in a way I didn’t like.

“I was rock bottom in my career so I came to Goa for a look around and training.

“The rest is history. I love football again.” Despite an initial culture shock in his new surroundings — arriving in the middle of the monsoon season did little to excite the striker at the beginning of his new venture — Duffy has since settled into his new way of life alongside his family, wife Claire and two boys Grayson and Leighton.

Inspired by an endless desire to succeed, Duffy toughed it out — and 12 months later he admits it was the best step he ever took.

He said: “When I first came over last year I wasn’t planning on it being a long term project at all, I thought one, possibly two, seasons.

“Life in India is the polar opposite from Scotland in almost every way, weather, food, culture, driving, everything. The weather is hot and humid every single day, the food is full of spice and chillies, everything shuts down for a mid-day siesta from 2-5pm — and they drive with no rules! For example they don’t wear seat belts or use child car seats, so it took a wee bit of adjusting.

“But every year it’s getting better, my family absolutely love it and it’s a more relaxing way of life than in the UK. My son is settled at a really good school and the cost of living is a fraction of what it is in the UK.” Success quickly followed as Duffy’s South Asia gamble paid dividends almost immediately. An impressive debut season in the heat and humidity of his new surroundings led to the 30-year-old being crowned foreign player of the year. The former Falkirk hitman also bagged the league’s top goalscorer award as Salgaocar finished a commendable third, behind eventual winners Bengaluru, coached by Englishman Ashley Westwood, and runners-up East Bengal.

With the I-League dwarfed by the ISL in the media stakes, Duffy insists that the talent is there in the original league set-up. However he admits that the incoming raft of stars can only be good for the Indian game — and it is something he would like to test himself in.

Duffy added: “The Indian Super League has created a huge buzz about Indian football, not just here but around the world.

“Global Indian stars like Sachin Tendulkar have created massive Indian interest, where players like Del Piero, Anelka, Elano, Friedrich and Capdevilla to name but a few have got the interest building in Europe and South America. So it’s great.

“With the success of the ISL so far this season, I’d like to give that a go at some point too.

“But, I was surprised, pleasantly, by the standard in our league.

“Technically there is next to no difference than in Scotland. The big difference is that there are no academies here, boys first football coaching comes at 18, 19, 20.

“At that age they are learning things that have came naturally to me since I was 12. So I think it has to change and get younger players into football and coaching earlier here, if things are to improve in the future.” Duffy admits being thousands of miles away from his extended family is the most difficult part of plying his trade outside of Scotland.

He added: “We all miss our families the most, my mum Terry and sister Kirsty are still in Scotland, it is my sister’s wedding in June so I’m hoping the I-League doesn’t run late and make us miss that!

“My wife finds it tough being away from her sister Laura, who is married to Barry Wilson, so it is tough being apart — but we both know it won’t be forever.

“But we as a family are in no real rush to get back to the UK, where if you had asked me two or three years ago it was totally different story, we were desperate to get back to Scotland and settle, but life doesn’t always go as planned.

“I couldn’t be here without my family, their love and support is what keeps me here.” Duffy first burst onto the scene as a fresh-faced 19-year-old during Alex McLeish’s time in charge of Rangers.

Sporadic appearances followed, including a cameo display in the Champions League against Panathanaikos, before he moved to Falkirk, where he firmly established himself as one of the brightest prospects in Scottish football at that time.

Duffy added: “My first boys club was Williamsburgh, they don’t exist anymore, but I was there for years. I actually started as a goalkeeper, playing sweeper then eventually centre midfielder.

“It wasn’t until I signed for Celtic at 13 that they played me upfront — and that worked out quite well for me!

“I scored about 90 goals that season before at 14 I signed for my boyhood heroes Rangers.

“My idol growing up was Ally McCoist, a lethal goal scorer, a poacher, and I eventually became that style of player myself — not consciously and not as good unfortunately — but sadly that type of striker seems to be a dying breed in the modern game”.

Despite his relatively short spell in the Ibrox first team, on a personal level, Duffy ranks his Rangers game-time as the highlight of his career.

“My biggest achievement was coming on in the Champions League for Rangers at Ibrox against Panathinaikos. The music before kick-off, the atmosphere and representing my boyhood heroes at the biggest European club competition was something I’d dreamed of as a boy.

“But my biggest football achievement has to be with Falkirk.

“The 18 months I spent there, as an integral and important first team player, top scorer with 27 goals as we won the First Division and Challenge Cup, will always be with me.

“And the six months in the SPL where we were odds on to get relegated, I was top scorer again and we were already safe by the time I left in the January.

“I won League one with Swansea City too, making 26 appearances, but never felt as valued or important to them as I did at Falkirk, that is why the Falkirk title will always be special to me.” Duffy’s side Salgaocar have experienced a successful start to their new season. Between pre season the side play in the Gao Pro League, which is a local league that only clubs from the state play. The Greens currently sit nine points clear at the top of the table with four games to go.

They recently won the Durand Cup, which is the third oldest cup competition in world football — only behind the Scottish Cup and FA Cup. They now have a break until the Federation Cup starts at the end of December before the main prize, the I-League, starts in the middle of January.

With preparation for the new season well under way, Duffy revealed he intends to add to his already bursting trophy cabinet.

“I still have time to add more titles, hopefully starting this season with Salgaocar in the I-League.

“If I can continue my form from last season, where I was voted foreign player of the year, and was also top scorer, then I have a good chance of more success, here and wherever life takes me next.”