|
|
Feature: A North Eastern Jewel Uncovered
The North Eastern region of India has always been a ‘football-everything’ region. Goal.com has been taking a deep look into the footballing prospects of this territory and uncovers a glittering gem…...
11-Aug-2008 8:18:25 PM
The North East of India is to Indian football what Newcastle is to coal, South America to cocaine and Microsoft to computers. This football soaked, somewhat underdeveloped region of the North East has for long been harbouring lofty footballing dreams and ideals.
But this vast goldmine still remains relatively untapped and that is why numerous top quality youngsters are failing to get themselves noticed. And one of them, who luckily came in contact with Goal.com, is a 21-year, humble, talented and ambitious lad who needs a tiny window of opportunity to showcase India what he, and the North East, can do.
The Discovered Jewel
Rajiv Joshi has been playing football since he was four and a half years of age. He has subsequently gone onto play for local sides in Shillong and nearabout. And he supports Manchester United. So what’s new in this, huh? After all, playing football is something each and every kid in the North East does these days and every other person(or so it seems!) in India is a Red Devil.
No, there is nothing much different between Rajiv and the other lads in his region……
Except that at 21, when most of those who fostered fantasies of making it big as professional footballers have flung their dreams far off into the dim distance, Rajiv is still giving his best to transform his story from fiction to reality.
Except that at 21 when, as Rajiv humbly admits, several of his friends are driving taxis to sustain themselves, he is giving his all to rescue his dream of becoming a footballer.
The History
Rajiv Joshi comes from a very modest family in a village in the North East. Football is in his blood as his family has been involved with the sport for generations. Rajiv’s father himself was a footballer, who played for some local football clubs and is now a bit-part referee.
A supremely confident man, Rajiv has actually decided to leave his local club that he was playing for last season and has traveled to Shillong for a trial at one of the bigger clubs in the city. He has however played for Guwahati Sports Club.
Rajiv plays as a central midfield player, well versed in the art of supplying the ball to the strikers and is excellent in the science of ball distribution. While growing up, Rajiv used to play in all positions on the football pitch and has experience of playing as a striker, midfielder, defender and even as a goalkeeper! Some versatility!
The Struggles
But success at the local level didn’t directly translate into success at a bigger stage. Rajiv ruefully acknowledges that he was rejected at several trials both in Meghalaya and elsewhere.
“I went for trials at clubs in Danapur, Sikkim, Delhi and Kolkata. But I didn’t get the chance.”
Not that these rejections have allayed his desire. Rajiv has just decided to leave his club Windo and has come to Shillong where he says he would go for trails with clubs like Shillong Lajong SC who are in the regional Super League. His voice trembles with zeal and emotion when he proclaims that he is here to realize his dream and is ready for even more self-sacrifice if that is what will lead him to his dreamland.
Undecided Future
Rajiv then speaks on the footballing mentality in his native North East. He proudly claims that his brother plays football too and recounts his old days when he and his friend used to play football together.
So what has happened to those friends? “About ten or fifteen of my friends work as drivers. They don’t get a job and no one gives them a chance(in football).”
Which is as much pathetic as self-destructive for North Eastern football in particular and Indian football in general. Rajiv says that no one seriously thinks that these football-drenched guys from the rural areas can become professional footballers. He stresses that it is due to lack of proper exposure and opportunities that several of his friends have had to relinquish their footballing aspirations. After all, they all need to survive!
Before wrapping up the conversation, Rajiv makes a very inspiring remark,”I shall try and get into a big club this time. If not, then I shall go back and come again next year. If not even then, then the year after.”
Sounds like Robert Bruce and the Spider, doesn’t it? The search for the Holy Grail for Rajiv then is still very much on.
Subhankar Mondal
If you harbour dreams to become a professional football and are confident that you can make it, then send in an email to ckapil@goal.com with the subject “Aspiring footballer”. Goal.com shall then get in touch with you and shall feature you on the site if you deserve it.
But this vast goldmine still remains relatively untapped and that is why numerous top quality youngsters are failing to get themselves noticed. And one of them, who luckily came in contact with Goal.com, is a 21-year, humble, talented and ambitious lad who needs a tiny window of opportunity to showcase India what he, and the North East, can do.
The Discovered Jewel
Rajiv Joshi has been playing football since he was four and a half years of age. He has subsequently gone onto play for local sides in Shillong and nearabout. And he supports Manchester United. So what’s new in this, huh? After all, playing football is something each and every kid in the North East does these days and every other person(or so it seems!) in India is a Red Devil.
No, there is nothing much different between Rajiv and the other lads in his region……
Except that at 21, when most of those who fostered fantasies of making it big as professional footballers have flung their dreams far off into the dim distance, Rajiv is still giving his best to transform his story from fiction to reality.
Except that at 21 when, as Rajiv humbly admits, several of his friends are driving taxis to sustain themselves, he is giving his all to rescue his dream of becoming a footballer.
The History
Rajiv Joshi comes from a very modest family in a village in the North East. Football is in his blood as his family has been involved with the sport for generations. Rajiv’s father himself was a footballer, who played for some local football clubs and is now a bit-part referee.
A supremely confident man, Rajiv has actually decided to leave his local club that he was playing for last season and has traveled to Shillong for a trial at one of the bigger clubs in the city. He has however played for Guwahati Sports Club.
Rajiv plays as a central midfield player, well versed in the art of supplying the ball to the strikers and is excellent in the science of ball distribution. While growing up, Rajiv used to play in all positions on the football pitch and has experience of playing as a striker, midfielder, defender and even as a goalkeeper! Some versatility!
The Struggles
But success at the local level didn’t directly translate into success at a bigger stage. Rajiv ruefully acknowledges that he was rejected at several trials both in Meghalaya and elsewhere.
“I went for trials at clubs in Danapur, Sikkim, Delhi and Kolkata. But I didn’t get the chance.”
Not that these rejections have allayed his desire. Rajiv has just decided to leave his club Windo and has come to Shillong where he says he would go for trails with clubs like Shillong Lajong SC who are in the regional Super League. His voice trembles with zeal and emotion when he proclaims that he is here to realize his dream and is ready for even more self-sacrifice if that is what will lead him to his dreamland.
Undecided Future
Rajiv then speaks on the footballing mentality in his native North East. He proudly claims that his brother plays football too and recounts his old days when he and his friend used to play football together.
So what has happened to those friends? “About ten or fifteen of my friends work as drivers. They don’t get a job and no one gives them a chance(in football).”
Which is as much pathetic as self-destructive for North Eastern football in particular and Indian football in general. Rajiv says that no one seriously thinks that these football-drenched guys from the rural areas can become professional footballers. He stresses that it is due to lack of proper exposure and opportunities that several of his friends have had to relinquish their footballing aspirations. After all, they all need to survive!
Before wrapping up the conversation, Rajiv makes a very inspiring remark,”I shall try and get into a big club this time. If not, then I shall go back and come again next year. If not even then, then the year after.”
Sounds like Robert Bruce and the Spider, doesn’t it? The search for the Holy Grail for Rajiv then is still very much on.
Subhankar Mondal
If you harbour dreams to become a professional football and are confident that you can make it, then send in an email to ckapil@goal.com with the subject “Aspiring footballer”. Goal.com shall then get in touch with you and shall feature you on the site if you deserve it.
Inside Goal.Com
-
Vote for your Goal.com World Player of the Week
Have your say on who you think should win Goal.com's weekly honour
-
Euro 2012 a timely respite for depressed Spain
With 24 per cent unemployment, wage cuts and little hope for improvement in the short term, the continental competition will at least take people's minds off their sad situation
-
Welbeck impresses but it's a bad day for Johnson
Ashley Young has also all but secured his place in the starting line up against France while Steven Gerrard put a good shift in. Here's how the Belgium friendly affected the England player's chances of featuring in Euro 2012
-
Five players Rodgers could sign for Liverpool
The new Reds boss was unveiled to the press on Friday and must immediately begin work on revitalising a thin squad with some additions in the transfer market
-
Lambert the latest in EPL manager merry-go-round
The Scot officially left Norwich City on Saturday to become the second new boss in June, following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool on Friday