‘Scoring against EB was the turning point’

“Anjan Mitra met us at lunch just before the match against Pune FC and told me to get ready for the camp. Things this year have been unbelievable for me right from the start. I was just about settling down in my Mohun Bagan jersey when this news came. 2009 will be perfect if I find myself in the first XI of the SAFF Cup. That’s the primary target.”

Fan following
The impact of the 22nd minute goal against East Bengal on October 25 has been Maithani’s first tryst with stardom. The obscure face watching second division I-league at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium last January has been leading little swarms in Kolkata streets over the past month.

“I’m thankful to Mohun Bagan for the latest turn of events. This wouldn’t have been possible had I been playing in Delhi. All spotters,coaches see players from big clubs. For the first time I have realised what playing for a big club means. I hear people saying ‘This is the guy who scored against East Bengal’. Some of them even say people will remember me because I scored on my derby debut and also when Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal 5-3. This is much more than what I had expected,” the 23-year-old added.

His former coach Bernard Oparanozie had called him the “best midfielder in the country” when Maithani was still with Indian Nationals and the Nigerian has every reason to stand by his words even if there’s a long way to go.

“Here in Delhi,he was growing in the wild with nobody getting to see his quality. So,for making the India probables the same year,he deserves credit,” Bernard said.

Maithani returns a chunk of the pie to his coach and Bernard himself makes a point. “There are a lot of Maithanis playing all across the country. But in India,most coaches are selfish. When they spot a good player,they try to keep them for themselves,” the Indian Nationals coach added.

The Nigerian also praised Bagan coach Karim Bencherifa for using him in the correct time. “He took some time to settle at Bagan. He should credit Karim too for showing confidence in him so early,” he added.

But vying for the sole central midfielder’s spot with slightly more experienced players like Baldeep Singh,Jagpreet Singh (both JCT) and Joacquim Abranches (Dempo SC) has put Maithani in a more competitive field. Bernard,however,says quality will even out that experience. “Being in the India camp without any Santosh Trophy or state-level representation is an achievement in itself. It shows his quality which can only get better with experience.”