(Rahil Gupta)
JAMMU, Dec 09: Ace Former Indian footballer Arun Malhotra in a session with Cross Town News spoke up on his illustrious International and Club Football career and also shown his interest in coaching players in his home state Jammu & Kashmir
Editor: Arun Malhotra is a synonym in Jammu&Kashmir for the term “Football”?
Arun:Much obliged! It makes me very lively that you feel this way and I am glad that now days football is picking up in India and it is also picking up in Jammu also. J&K is where it all started for me and I am thankful to the people of my state who always supported me throughout my carreer.
Late Abdul Kalamji once said in his speech: Dream big to achieve big, if you don’t achieve at least you will reach somewhere near by your dream.
Editor: You have played at big levels for India and renowned clubs, how you went with your journey?
Arun: Playing for India was an amazing feeling. When you wear your national colours and go out in the ground to represent your country, that feeling is the best for a football player. I wish, I could have played more but that’s just life.
My time at East Bengal was very good. Playing for one of the most famous club in the country it is a dream of every player and I fulfilled mine. I have won all the trophies in Indian domestic tournaments like, Durand Cup, Federation Cup, IFA Shield, National Football League and other top tournaments while representing the different Indian Clubs i.e. Air India (Mumbai), Mahindra United(Mumbai), Mohd. Sporting (Kolkata), Kingfisher East Bengal(Kolkata), ONGC and also represented Indian National Team in all major international tournaments.
Playing at the top level requires a lot of focus and dedication. There are ups and downs because this is a physical game and lots of fitness you need, sometimes things go your way sometimes they don't, you have to deal with it and move ahead.
One of the toughest times in my life was the knee injury and gone through two major operations of ACL of right knee which I picked up playing for East Bengal against Mohan Bagan at Salt-lake stadium,Kolkata. It was tough mentally and physically to recover from that.
My journey has been great, I have no regrets. It could have been better or It could have been worse also, but if I see back today, I feel happy and satisfied. Football has taught me so much about my self, about life. I have travelled, seen so many different places in and outside the country also met so many people because of Football.
Editor : So many achievements by your side , Are you ready to come to Jammu & Kashmir and develop new talent who later can represent India and World class clubs?
Arun:Every individual has a dream to come to his/her homestate after finishing the job given to him, I always had a dream to open a professional academy for kids who always wanted to play soccer and make the State/Country proud but for that we need well equipped football fields in the state so that we can produce great footballers.
I always said that there is immense talent in the state but lack of exposer and proper football fields,
We have the players of strong built, climate wise it’s wonderful, players Fitness level are very high, they are Aggressive and focused also but we just need to polish them at higher level. So, it will be honour for me to share my knowledge in the field of Football if given an opportunity by the state government.
Editor: At what age do you think, A Footballer should start taking his game seriously?
Arun: The earlier the better I think. I think by the age of 9-10 years especially in India , a player should be able to understand his game and know what areas to focus on. To become a footballer it takes a lot of dedication, you have to sacrifice a lot. Nothing comes before practice. This has to keep on going throughout a player’s career. If a player takes his game seriously at the start then you know that they are going to understand the basics of the game very well, which makes you a better player.
In Europe, 7-8 year old kids are playing for academies and are being scouted by the major clubs, so they are competitive from early on and are very focused on their game. Because they have all amenities regarding the youth need in his/her early age. So by the time a player is 15-16 years old they can make the move from academies to the reserves and then on to the first team as early by the age of 17-18. But, that only happens if the player is serious about his game from early on.
I give you an example:
Normen Whiteside , of Ireland, represented world cup at the age of 17yrs 41dys ,
Gary McSheffrey - aged 16years 198dys –played for Aston Villa.
Izzy Brown Arsenal player, aged-16years 117days –West Bromwichand so on….
Editor: J&K Government has made you the Member of prestigious Sports Council, What are you plans withthe new role?
Arun: First to get the basic things in order from the football perspective. It all starts with a better infrastructure, better grounds, more training camps. For the players to improve the coaching methods also have to evolve and as the coaches evolve and improve so will the crop of upcoming players improve. I see a lot of young kids now play football; they follow the sport so my main aim is to help these kids get a better opportunity than what there is currently for the J&K players. Now there is Indian Soccer League and the clubs keep on looking for hungry young players and I believe there are a lot of young and hungry players in Jammu & Kashmir and it is our focus to provide them with all the help we can.
We cannot expect Medals from the State players without having good infrastructure, already have talented instructors.
Editor: Do you think there is need for a strong Football turf in Jammu?
Arun: Of course, there is no question about that, it should be on the top priority. Sports council has its own soccer ground at Parade ground, inside the city. It has produced many national and International players from the state because most of the city based clubs use to play there but now the condition is totally different, it is in a very poor state.
All the clubs and department teams from the valley comes at Jammu while Secretariat move for practice or National camps or participate in State tournaments, but there is no proper football field as well as AstroTurf grounds where they can practice.
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