Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Kislay Sajwan didnt figure in the list of scholarship awardees of the 11th Hindkishore tournament because his name was becoming synonymous with that list over the last three years and the organisers wanted to give that opportunity to some other player. Coach Jasmer Singh,who is in-charge of Sajwan both at the DDA Football Academy and DPS,Vasant Kunj,says the player is set for bigger targets. Incidentally,Sajwan is the only Delhi player to have featured across all national age-group teams Indian football has on offer for his age.
In 2007,he was member of the Indian under-13 team for the AFC football festival in Dhaka,Bangladesh and then followed it up with an under-14 international football fest in Iran. His latest,the under-16s this year,ended rather sordidly with India failing to qualify for the AFC Cup in Abu Dhabi.
While on the field though,Sajwan has given his coaches a lot of options. In Dhaka,he was a central midfielder,in Iran,he was left half and in Abu Dhabi,a left back.
As coaches,we dont like to tamper the way a 14-15 year-old wants to play. But hes been good at the international level,in at least three positions. He often figures in the DDA and his schools senior team too, Singh said.
Singh,who had also trained Sunil Chhetri during his school days,wants Sajwan to follow the Indian vice-captains footsteps. Incidentally,Chhetri is Sajwans favourite Indian player and the coach finds a lot of similarities among the two.
Sunil Chhetri had given hope to a lot of Delhi players but nobody has made a call for the national team so far,even among the age-group teams. Sajwan has all qualities to make the grade,to fill up the gap, Sajwan said,adding,Ive seen a lot of similarities between Chhetri and Sajwan. It shows in the way they play and their attitudes. At this age,I remember Sunil arriving at practice and leaving as soon as his football was over. I have never seen Kislay getting distracted or taking interest in anything outside his game.
