The impassioned happenings during the football World Cup contrasted the 23-year-old's recent stay in France when he plied the trade of a sport somewhat obscure in that colourful land.

Claes, a left-winger who plays for Mumbai outfit Tatas, reflected on a fruitful stint with FC Lyon as he followed in the footsteps of internationals Dhanraj Pillay and Gavin Ferreira who served the same club as professionals.

Back home after the completion of the season, Claes is now in Chennai with the Bombay team participating in the MCC Murugappa Gold Cup hockey tournament.

Ferriera acknowledges that the chance to sample European hockey came along because his namesake Gavin and Pillay -- Olympians both -- opted out of last season's French league because of national commitments and another international Rahul Singh's inability to make the trip. Claes believes the move has done him a world of good.He explains: ``A spell in Europe has influenced my game profoundly.''

`I do a lot of off-the-ball running, part with the ball often, attempt to create gaps and have realised the rich benefits in first-time passing,'' he adds.

``The French, like most Europeans, are short on ball skills but heavy on physical play. I am now better equipped to cope with crunching tackles and body play,'' the diminutive Ferriera reveals.

FC Lyon finished sixth in the 10-team National League that entails travel across the length and breadth of the country.

Montrouge finished champions with Racing Club, guided by former India captain Jude Felix, taking runners-up spot.

Soccer, expectedly is the biggest happening in French sport but the French hockey association does it's bit in promoting the sport, Ferriera informs.One recalls France's defeats handed to India (1990 World Cup) and Pakistan (Test match in 1986) as Claes throws some light of hockey in that country.``Clubs endeavour to draw school kids as young as four to thesport. There is no dearth of artificial pitches in the country although most are sand-filled. And while most French club players are part-timers, they take the pitch for training and playing with 100 per cent commitment,'' Claes informs.

But the stay in France came at a cost. The gregarious Claes looks back on months of loneliness but he is fully prepared to go back to FC Lyon if he is offered another contract.

``It was training and playing but little else in life. Language, of course, was the major impediment to a reasonable social life in France,'' he explains.

``Then, Indian food is both scarce and expensive. I needed to don the apron,'' Claes laughs away his predicament.

The youngest of five brothers in a hockey-loving family living in Orlem, Malad, Claes picked up a stick and began to dribble a ball among dozens of kids in the suburb bubbling with hockey activity.

He soon shone for his school St Anne's in the under-12, 14 and 16 competitions.

Later, it was Jaswant Singh -- once againinfluencing the career of a collegian -- who raised Ferriera's game a notch or two at Khalsa College. Inevitably, Ferriera was drawn into the Republicans Club fold and the altruistic guidance of Marzban `Bawa' Patel.

Acclaim came in due course of time. Ferriera was adjudged best player at a tournament in Nigaum. In 1991, he shone again, this time in distant Dubai while being voted most promising player.

Super League action wasn't long in coming and Ferriera signed up for Tatas. While knocking on the doors of Mumbai selection, Ferreira had to wait several years before being summoned for the Federation Cup in Hyderabad last season.

The wheels of fortune kept turning. Tony Fernandes, an Indian who is now a French citizen, felt Ferriera was good material for FC Lyon, the club he coaches.

Claes, tougher and combative after his Gaulian adventure, appears more confident as he focuses on a spot in the national side.

Equally importantly, he believes he has a mission -- imparting useful Euro lessons to fellowplayers in India, many of whom betray familiar failings of holding on to the ball and poor finishing.