By Diptayan Hazra
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 11 (ANI): As Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) gear up to face Bengaluru FC (BFC) in the Indian Super League (ISL) Cup final this Saturday, a young midfielder from Kolkata, Supratim Das shared his dream of scoring against his childhood favourite club.
The 19-year-old Mumbai City FC (MCFC) talent earlier signed a three-year contract–tying him to the Islanders until the summer of 2027.
Born in Kolkata and raised in the city’s iconic football culture, Supratim is no stranger to the passion that surrounds the sport in India’s footballing capital. As he is part of the Mumbai City FC setup now, he wants to score against Mohun Bagan, as he used to support them when he was a child.
“If there’s one team I would want to score against, it would be Mohun Bagan Super Giant,” Supratim told ANI.
“There’s no doubt they have been incredible this season, and with them being one of the great competitors of Mumbai City FC, our matches have always been intense and competitive. Scoring against them would be a huge moment for me, and doing that, I know the child in me–who watched and grew up supporting Mohun Bagan FC–would be absolutely thrilled,” he noted.
He added, “Born in Kolkata, I grew up witnessing one of the biggest derbies in India and have always been a fan of the football culture there. Moving to Mumbai at a young age and training at Reliance Foundation Young Champs to eventually become a part of Mumbai City FC has been a long and rewarding journey.”
Supratim’s journey started when he was just two years old, kicking a ball around under the watchful eyes of his father in Kolkata. By the age of four, he had joined a local academy, and at 11, was scouted by Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC). His time with RFYC included winning the Sub-Junior I-League title in 2018-19, helping the side to a runner-up finish in the MFA Super Division League 2022-23, and earning a spot in the Premier League Next Gen Cup in 2023.
This season, he finally made his ISL debut–coming off the bench against Odisha FC (OFC).
“Making my ISL debut against Odisha FC was an incredibly special moment for me. It was a big step in my professional journey, and the fact that it happened in a home game, in front of our fans, made it even more memorable,” Das said.
“Even though I only had a few minutes on the pitch, I wanted to make the most of it and truly enjoy the experience. To be honest, I didn’t feel pressure–I was just excited and focused on cherishing the moment,” he added.
“As a young player, you always want to show your potential to the coach [Petr Kratky], and that was definitely on my mind. I wanted to make a good impression and prove that I’m ready to contribute whenever I get the opportunity,” he noted.
“Overall, it was a great experience, and it has only motivated me to keep working hard for more chances in the future,” he said.
With the league evolving and icons like Sunil Chhetri still around, who has withdrawn his retirement and is available to play for the national team, Das wants to share the pitch with the legend.
“A chance to share the pitch with Sunil Chhetri would be an absolute privilege. He has been the backbone of Indian football for so many years, inspiring an entire generation, including myself,” he said.
“Every footballer in India has looked up to him, and the chance to play alongside him would be a dream come true,” Das added.
“At the same time, football is always evolving, and with time, young players like us should step up and carry forward his legacy. While I would love to share the pitch with him, I hope that Indian football has a bright future with many young talents coming through. For now, though, as long as he continues to play, me getting a chance to play with him would be a huge honour,” he noted.
Despite limited minutes in his first year, the youngster remains focused on the long-term.
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is the importance of patience and consistently giving my 100% in training,” Supratim said.
“Another incredible part of this journey has been sharing the pitch with some of the biggest names in Indian football, like Brandon [Fernandes], Chhangte [Lallianzuala Chhangte], and many others, players that young footballers across the country look up to. Training and playing alongside them has been a great learning experience, and I’ve picked up a lot from their professionalism and approach to the game,” he added.
With Mumbai City FC aiming to bounce back stronger next season, Supratim has set his goals.
“Coming from a youth academy and stepping into professional football in the ISL is a big step. It is a huge opportunity and a privilege for me. It’s my first year in professional football, and as a young player, I understand that getting minutes on the pitch can be challenging,” Das said.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to give my best, working hard, and pushing myself to earn more minutes on the pitch next season. My goal is to contribute as much as possible to the team’s success in the league and to keep improving with every opportunity I get,” he noted.
“Of course, we also want to do better next season and aim for even better results–winning the Shield and the Cup will be big target for us. But beyond that, the most important thing for me is to enjoy the journey, keep learning, and continue growing as a player,” he added.
“Overall, it has been an amazing journey so far, and I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and contribute to the team next season,” he said.
Das also wants to represent the Indian team someday, he said, “On the national level, who wouldn’t want to represent their country in the world’s most beloved sport? It would be a dream come true to wear the Indian jersey and compete against the best but beyond just playing, I want to contribute to Indian football’s growth–helping the sport reach the same level of passion and support that cricket enjoys in our country. Grassroots development is key, and I hope to be a part of a movement that encourages young talents to take Indian football to new heights.”
“Above all, I know my family would be incredibly proud to see me represent our country. Their sacrifices and hard work have played a huge role in shaping my journey, and knowing that their struggles have paid off would mean everything to me,” he added. (ANI)
Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed of ANI; only the image & headline may have been reworked by News Services Division of World News Network Inc Ltd and Palghar News and Pune News and World News
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