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Not all players are home
Football has always been the most famous sport in Kerala. Maybe it is cricket that rules in the whole country, but certainly not in this part of the world. Here, people are mad only about one game, and that is football.
Parents here want their son to become a footballer one day and represent the country. They love to cherish this dream. Probably because of their so much enthusiasm, the state of Kerala has produced talented footballers over the years. Not only they represented the state but went on to represent their country as well.
There are a few people who have not heard the name of I M Vijayan. Probably the best footballer the state has ever produced. Born in a poor family in Thrissur, Vijayan had to sell soda bottles in his childhood to earn for the family. But that didn’t prevent is an ambition to become a footballer one day.
Vijayan started his footballing career with Kerala Police and went on to represent Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, JCT, Churchill Brothers. He played 79 matches for his country and scored 40 goals. He had formed a brilliant partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia and the duo is probably the most lethal attacking line-up that represented India.
Not only Vijayan, but there are also others who made Kerala proud. Some of them are Jo Paul Ancheri, TK Chatunni (I-League winning coach), Bino George (now the coach of Gokulam Kerala), CV Pappachan (former Indian captain) etc.
After a short decline, Kerala now boast some talented footballers who are representing their country. Along with Captain Sandesh Jhinghan, Anas Edathodika, Asique Kuruniyan, Rino Anto are part of the Indian line-up who belongs to Kerala.
Among the current crop, some plays for Keralian club, some ply their trade on other clubs out of the state.
Here in this article, we would bring you the players who play for other clubs:
#5 Britto PM (Mohun Bagan, Kolkata)
Have you ever heard a player turning down an offer from an Indian Super League just to play more minutes with another team?
When Britto PM did this last year, everyone who knows the players were shell-shocked. How can a player decline a lucrative offer to play for an I-League club. But Britto was unperturbed. He told everyone that he had taken the right decision.
Indeed he did. Britto, playing for I-League club Churchill Brothers then, has silenced everyone with his performance. He was a valuable part of his team and Churchill immensely helped by the heroics of Britto.
Mohun Bagan, seeing his talent, didn’t waste time and approached the Keralite boy with an offer. Britto hesitated for some time before joining the Kolkata outfit. Coach Sankarlal Chakroborty was impressed with the footballer and he regularly featured him in Calcutta Football League. Britto even played for the club in the first match of the I-League this season. His effectiveness on the wings has caught the eye of everyone.
Away from his home state, Britto has adapted his life elsewhere.
#4 TP Rehenesh (NorthEast United, Guwahati)
Rehenesh is probably the only footballer in the list who has never played in his home state. The tall goalkeeper started his journey with Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) in 2012. After playing with the club for two seasons, he joined Mumbai Tigers, an I-League club which is now dissolved. He joined Rangdajied United in 2014 and permanently joined Shillong Lajong within the same year.
The goalkeeper was offered a contract by ISL club NorthEast United in 2015 and he accepted it gladly. He spent two years on Kolkata giants East Bengal on loan. During his time with the red and gold, he participated in the I-League. NorthEast took Rehenesh back this year and now he is their first choice custodian.
Rehenesh, a talented goalkeeper, has often invited himself into controversy. His on and off-field antics have earned him more backlash than praise. Last year, after conceding a poor goal, he made obscene gestures to the East Bengal fans.
The goalkeeper was suspended for one match and sent back home amid furore. This year, NorthEast United played their second match against ATK. The Kozhikode-born goalkeeper suddenly punched ATK defender Gerson Viera during a corner. The matter was initially overlooked by the referee. But due to a protest from ATK, the officials decided to have a relook at the situation and Rehenesh was found guilty. He was suspended for three matches.
#3 Rino Anto (Bengaluru FC, Bengaluru)
Born in Thrissur, Anto is a product of Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur. He graduated in 2008 and almost immediately signed by Mohun Bagan. He played at the Kolkata club successfully for two years before joining Salgaocar. He spent a brief spell in Quartz FC.
Anto was signed by newly-formed Bengaluru FC in 2013. He played almost every match there and spent the better part of his career there. He was the highest paid defender in 2015 ISL when he joined ATK on loan. He went back to his state in Kerala Blasters for a loan spell before being signed by the Kochi-based club the following year. Rino came back to Bengaluru this year but has not played a single game so far.
Once hailed as the best player of the state, Rino Anto has witnessed everything in his life. After showing his talent, his career encountered a sudden slump and was subsequently omitted from the national team. From a go-to man, Rino is now a second choice defender and he only comes in the team when someone gets injured.
#2 Ubaid CK (East Bengal, Kolkata)
Ubaid is a product of the Seven Tournament, the most popular competition of Kerala. Within a few days, Ubaid made a name for himself and an offer was made by Dempo.
But Ubaid have to spend most of the time as a back-up of Subhasish Roy Chowdhury and Laxmikant Kattimani. He then a had four seasons shuttling between Air India and ONGC in the Mumbai Football League.
During that time, the goalkeeper caught the eyes of Khalid Jamil, then a Mumbai FC coach. But nothing changed in his life and Ubaid moved back to his state to play for FC Kerala.
It was only in 2017 that he got a call from Jamil to join East Bengal. After a trial, he joined the club on loan. He made his debut against Minerva Punjab in the I-League and impressed one and all. Jamil featured him regularly.
Even though Jamil is not associated with the club anymore, Ubaid remained as a part of East Bengal and is now a second choice goalkeeper after Rakshit Dagar.
#1 Ashique Kuruniyan (FC Pune City, Pune)
Being born in a football-crazy town of Mallapuram, playing football was only the normal thing for Ashique Kuruniyan. From a very small age, he started participating in different age level tournaments. But things were not rosy for him every time.
Ashique’s family had no objection in playing football. But they were a big family and Ashique was the fifth child. He father only runs a shop and mother is a housewife. So, money was the only thing that came as a hindrance in living his dream.
Ashique had to drop-out from the school to work on a sugarcane farm. The work was rigorous. But Ashique didn’t give up football. He played at the paddy fields after finishing his duty. He dedication paid off when he was picked by Vision India team, a scheme started by Kerala Football Association.
Life suddenly changed for the lanky guy as he started attending schools. In 2016, FC Pune City took Ashique in their academy. With his immense talent, Ashique got a chance to go all the way to Spain, to play for Villareal-C team. He has to return to India after a hamstring injury.
But his dreams were not over as he signed his first professional contract with Pune City and playing for them since. His heroics on the field earned him an Indian call up and he is now a regular part of the team.
