His mother would sell clothes at her shop by the footpath while his father would head out for his job, battling to make both ends meet -- that is the earliest recollection Sanjeev Stalin has about his parents’ profession.
Even then, Sanjeev’s dreams were different and that was about following his father’s first love -- football. As the nation gears up to host its first FIFA event -- the Under-17 World Cup -- he is close to fulfilling that dream, being one of the two players from Bengaluru who are in the Indian team.
“Everyday my father goes out for some work and my mother sells clothes at her roadside shop with my maternal uncle and that is our family’s income,” Sanjeev says, recalling the tough days. Today, though, it’s celebration time at the Stalin household, nestled in the bylanes of Murphy Town. The locality known for its football craze is celebrating one of its own.
Sanjeev is among the 21 players who are part of the Indian team, along with fellow Bengalurean Hendry Anthony.
Tough times have snuffed out many a sporting career but in the case of Sanjeev and Hendry, it only fuelled their dreams.
“We never stopped him (from following his dream),” says Stalin Sr, Sanjeev’s dad, who is employed at the CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme). “I am very happy. I never had any idea that he could make the cut. But he believed in his abilities and worked hard. I don’t think even I worked that hard,” he adds.
During his younger days Stalin had played the game at a competitive level, often turning out for Aeronautical Development Establishment in the local league. So it’s no surprise that Sanjeev too picked up the game. “He must have been around four when I first gave him a plastic ball. And instead of throwing, he used to kick. So I got him a bigger ball,” Stalin remembers.
“Then from Kolkata I got him boots. I used to take him to play near my house. I used to ask him to carry the ball with his left foot and then with his right and he used to do it so well and with good style.”
Sanjeev was around eight when he caught the eye of former East Bengal star Jamshed Nassiri at a local tournament.
“Nassir recommended Sanjeev to the Chandigarh Football Academy, that’s where he blossomed,” the proud father says.
Sheer love
While Sanjeev has his father to thank for for introducing him to the game, for Hendry, it is his sheer love for the game that pushed him towards greater goals.
Growing up in another football crazy locality, Austin Town, it was no surprise that the game came naturally to Hendry.
“It’s the first game we played. You look out and that’s the only thing you will see,” says Ajay Alex, Hendry’s twin brother.
And with their parents out to earn a living — father is a transport vehicle driver while mother is a house maid — the brothers would spend time on the field picking up the game.
“We used to play a lot. Later the elders started including us in their team for tournaments. The various five-a-side tournaments that happen in the city were the first competitions we participated in. From there the Ozone FC scouts picked us,” states Ajay.
At Ozone, the brothers learned the game under the watchful eyes of Christopher, and he is today a satisfied man.
“Every coach would want his ward to play for the country one day, and today my dream has come true. I am lucky that I spotted this talent some 5-6 years ago,” he says.
Published 22 September 2017, 19:56 IST