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What's the story?
Rahim Ali, a member of the Indian U-17 contingent that took part in the recently concluded FIFA U17 World Cup, visited Mohun Bagan training ground during their practice session on Tuesday.
The I-League is set to commence from 25 November 2017, and Rahim, upon his visit to the Mohun Bagan training ground, said that he would like to play for the Green and Maroon brigade.
Although Rahim came to visit Mohun Bagan secretary Debasish Dutta, the Green and Maroons' coach Sanjoy Sen was excited on seeing Rahim, and introduced the youngster to all the players of the club. Rahim has been an academy player for Mohun Bagan since 2013 and said, “In the future I want to play for the Mohun Bagan senior team.”
In case you didn't know
Rahim struck headlines before the FIFA U17 World Cup, as well in the Coca Cola Under-15 Cup in 2014, when he was representing West Bengal. While playing for West Bengal, he managed to defeat Jharkhand 2-0 in the finals for the East Zone and bagged the man-of-the-match for his great display of performance in December 2014.
He was given the national team trials following this performance and inducted into the AIFF Elite Academy. However, he was demoted to the B team and was almost sure of not playing in the U17 WC until the current coach Luis Norton de Matos asked for fresh trials for each player. Rahim turned out to be one of first players to enter the final 21-man squad for the World Cup.
The heart of the matter
Rahim's career is on the rise, as after representing India in a World Cup, he has the chance of playing in one of the biggest clubs in India, in the future. He idolises Sonny Norde, and was very happy on seeing him on his visit to the Mohun Bagan training ground. He believes it is due to FIFA U17 WC that he is being able to achieve his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
What's Next?
With his good performances in the U17 World Cup, it does not look like it would be too long before Rahim is snapped up by one of the top clubs in the future, once the AIFF embargo on the youngsters is over.
Author's take
Rahim's career is on an upward track and he should be disciplined like all other great sportspeople to make a mark in World football and help the sport to grow in India as well.
