Shubho Paul on being picked by FC Bayern for its U-19 World Squad

Shubho Paul’s WhatsApp bio is as simple and straightforward as the 17-year-old from Howrah himself is. ‘For you football may be game, for me it’s my life’. And his ‘life’ is set to unfold in many ways as the ‘Young Gun’ is ready to make a mark in the FC Bayern World Squad U-19. He is ‘the first Indian to get selected in the FC Bayern World Squad’. The 5’7’’ striker spoke to t2 from Delhi where he plays for Sudeva Delhi FC and trains in their residential academy.

When did you start liking football?

I was around seven when I took up football seriously.

Who were your icons when you took up the sport?

I used to watch a lot of Cristiano Ronaldo back then. He is so disciplined and hard-working. While playing he shows a lot of skills and entertains his fans and football lovers and motivates his teammates.

Before you joined Sudeva Delhi FC, where did you train?

I practised with Chima Okorie for six-seven months when I began and then it was Tapan Karmakar. I still practise with him. I had little idea who Chima Okorie was though and heard about his greatness from people later. My brother, who discontinued football so that I could realise my dreams, used to talk a lot about him. Chima sir taught me how to finish... ki bhabe goal marte hobe, kotha theke marte hobe.

Is FC Bayern Munich your favourite club?

It has been a childhood dream to play for Barcelona and I also love Bayern Munich. I do keep a tab on their games.

Cristiano Ronaldo is a huge icon for Shubho

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That you are the first Indian to get selected in the FC Bayern Munich World Squad, is that pressure? How are you preparing?

Aamake sir (Anuj Gupta and Vijay Hakari, co-founders of Sudeva Delhi FC) ra bolechhe oto pressure nite na. Even the Bayern Munich coach has said to just focus on my own game. I want more and more Indian players to play overseas. If I crack it, that would inspire others also to dream.

Did you know about the World Squad selection?

I didn’t know. Anuj sir and Vijay sir didn’t tell me beforehand. Once the final selection was done, we were told about it in the meeting. Everyone was very happy. They all clapped for me.

Who did you call first?

My brother. He was very happy and told me to keep going and grab a chance in the senior team.

Tell us about your training schedule...

We practise twice a day in the morning and also have evening training. Tuesday is a day off. I get up around 6am for my morning practice at 6.30am. If I am not training in the morning, I get up by 7.30am-8am and then have my breakfast by 8.30am. I play a bit of game. Then I visit the gym. Post-lunch, I rest for a bit and then there is practice in the evening. I practise five hours every day and 30-40 minutes are spent in the gym.

What have you had to leave out from your diet?

There’s nothing spicy in my diet. Though I don’t like rice or fish too much, I quite like sweets, especially gur er rosogolla.

How do you relax?

I play Xbox and watch football videos. I don’t like watching too many films.

But do you have a favourite actor?

Salman Khan (laughs).

Do you want to continue with academics?

I want to continue with my studies (Class X). Khelar sathe sathe porashona tao joruri.

Who is your favourite Indian footballer?

Sunil Chhetri.

What is your dream?

I want to play for the main squad of Bayern Munich and also for other renowned teams and UEFA Champions League. Aamar jonyo jeno India’r naam hoi onek.

Shubho in a nutshell

Age: 17

Hails from: Howrah

In the news for: Being ‘the first Indian to get selected in the FC Bayern World Squad’

I-League matches: 8

Played for India U-15/16 and now a part of U17

Goals scored for India U-15/16: 16

Meet Shubho’s ‘Sirs’

Anuj… Represented junior team in Delhi (U-14 and U-17) in football Played for Delhi University Represented Cardiff University in football during his LLB (Hons) days at Cardiff Law School, University of Wales Was in the top 30 in junior nationals in tennis, in India Was a solicitor in England and then came back to India and practised for 10 years

Sourced by the correspondent

Sudeva Delhi FC co-founders Anuj Gupta and Vijay Hakari went to the same school and years later, came together to form the club. Anuj gave up law one fine day. “It was easier for me to leave law, but the difficult part was to understand what I want to do next, which would really help the country. That feeling was there for a long time. Vijay and I started in tennis and then we got into football. We bought an existing club in 2016, which was playing in the senior division in Delhi called Moonlight, quite an old club. The journey has helped me to understand what I want to do in life,” he says. Vijay “was one of those people whose parents weren’t supportive of getting into sports at all”. “Coming from the south Indian background, you are pushed into engineering. It was more community football and understanding multiple sports. I was into martial arts for a brief period. Whatever things I know, maybe I can get all that together and give back to the children at the right age, then miracles do happen and this is nothing less than a miracle. The best thing about Anuj and me coming together is that you have to have someone who believes in you. Hopefully we are going to take India ahead as much as possible,” he says.

Vijay...400m state-level runner Played football 400m state-level runner

Sourced by the correspondent

Their plan is “mission World Cup 2030”. “We thought about it in 2015. The inflow of players at Sudeva and the best ones going to Spain and staying there... that inflow and outflow is going very well. We are opening a couple more residential academies... one in the south and one in the mountains. More and more players will be able to play professional football in Europe and that is where it would help the national team to get those players as and when there is a national team camp. Hopefully we will come closer to the bigger aim, which is to see India in the World Cup,” says Anuj. We wish them all the best!