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Delhi Dynamos FC’s Anwar Ali has come a long way since his humble beginnings from the small town of Jalandhar in Punjab. He initially impressed as a right back for local academy Rurka Kalan and eventually signed for Punjab Police, shifting to the centre back position. It is in this role that he made the cut for the Indian national team since making his debut in 2008.
Signing for I-League side JCT, where he landed his first professional contract, he moved around the country, playing for Dempo in 2009-10, with whom he won his only league title, and last turned out for Mumbai FC.
Playing for Delhi Dynamos in the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), his team did not have the best of starts in the league, winning just once of their first nine matches. But Ali was positive despite their dismal run. “In the last few matches we conceded goals. What happened is that our team tried to create a goal until the last minute. This means that all the players were thrown ahead and we got caught on the counter. This is where our defence was exposed, but I don't think we have made mistakes in all matches," he said.
He is also quick to credit his keeper, Belgian Kristof van Hout. “As far as the defence is concerned, we have conceded few goals and had clean sheets too. Van Hout has also played well. This is a team game; if the defence plays well, the team gets more confidence,” he said.
Ali believes the ISL has been a great learning curve for the Indians playing alongside their foreigner counterparts. Delhi need Ali’s calm head to navigate what seems like a tough finish to the league campaign which starts with the home encounter against Atletico de Kolkata and two away matches in Pune and Chennai.
