5 Kerala players who are playing elsewhere

#1 Ashique Kuruniyan (FC Pune City, Pune)

Ashique Kuruniyan

Being born in a football-crazy town of Mallapuram, playing football was only the normal thing for Ashique Kuruniyan. From a very small age, he started participating in different age level tournaments. But things were not rosy for him every time.

Ashique’s family had no objection in playing football. But they were a big family and Ashique was the fifth child. He father only runs a shop and mother is a housewife. So, money was the only thing that came as a hindrance in living his dream.

Ashique had to drop-out from the school to work on a sugarcane farm. The work was rigorous. But Ashique didn’t give up football. He played at the paddy fields after finishing his duty. He dedication paid off when he was picked by Vision India team, a scheme started by Kerala Football Association.

Life suddenly changed for the lanky guy as he started attending schools. In 2016, FC Pune City took Ashique in their academy. With his immense talent, Ashique got a chance to go all the way to Spain, to play for Villareal-C team. He has to return to India after a hamstring injury.

But his dreams were not over as he signed his first professional contract with Pune City and playing for them since. His heroics on the field earned him an Indian call up and he is now a regular part of the team.