JOIN USBengaluru boy Vignesh making his mark in ISL
When Vignesh Dakshinamurthy smashed in a volley from an acute angle for Mumbai City FC against Hyderabad FC in December, arguably the best goal in the Indian Super League, the moment finally had arrived. After years of toil in the lower leagues, he had made his mark.
“It was a team goal. If you see, we all played one-touch. (Ahmed) Jahouh to Bipin (Singh) to me, all one-touch passes and I finished also in one touch. It was exactly like how we play in the training,” Vignesh says.
When the goal did its rounds on social media, few knew that the rangy midfielder-turned-left-back has already turned out for India. Even fewer knew that the goal was made through a long, laborious process that started in Bengaluru at the Ozone Academy.
“At Ozone, for the first two years I was under Bert Zuurman. His game style was similar to Sergio Lobera’s (Mumbai City manager). That’s where I first learnt that a left-sided defender can also play in attack. Then I was under (David) Booth. I felt a big impact on my game, he knew what were the requirements to succeed in India. He shaped me, I developed aggression and confidence,” he remarked adding that the attacking requirement placed on him by Lobera as left back means shifting back from midfield wasn’t hard. While at 22, few would disagree that Vignesh is making inroads at the right time, having already played for India in the 2018 SAFF Championship, proving himself has been a long road for the Bengaluru lad.
“Last two years I didn’t get many chances (under Jorge Costa). I wanted to prove myself and make use of the chances because not many get such chances. That mindset has helped me do whatever I have in the available game time. I want to keep improving. This is not my peak and I want to chase it,” he says.
It’s with that mindset Vignesh tackles every training session, knowing Mandar Rao Dessai - Lobera’s captain during their time in FC Goa - is his competition. He has featured in 15 matches so far this season.
It’s a mindset he feels will help players from Karnataka rise up to the ranks again.
“I came here after playing BDFA Division and Second Division. So, it is not impossible for those players to come up. They have to be focused, be true to themselves, they can achieve. We should only concentrate on improving and step by step you can. That should be the motto,” he says.
As it stands he is poised to lead the way for Bengaluru players. Mumbai are atop the league and a probable qualification for the AFC Champions League awaits. There is also the ISL title, for which they are favourites. Vignesh is dreaming big.