Interview: India U23 skipper Raju Gaikwad

He is the skipper of the Indian U23 football team. Not only is he a rock in the centre of defence but he also has a lethal weapon in his armoury which Team India uses in attack. A throw which will remind you of none other than Rory Delap. Meet Raju Gaikwad.

My friend Karthik and I got a golden opportunity to catch up with the skipper himself. In an exclusive interview he spoke about his deadly throw-ins, his dream of leading the Indian senior team one day and much more.

Raju Gaikwad against Qatar

Rahul-Kartik (RK): In the 2nd leg against Qatar their players tried to obstruct your throw-ins. Did it affect you in any way?

Raju: I was not at all affected by their tactics. I even told the referee that was wrong. You are not allowed to jump. There was no pressure from them, I handled it well. There was a incident where even the Qatar coach objected to me taking a long run up. I didn’t lose my focus and concentrated on my game. I can even throw long by running two steps.

RK: Last year when the Indian senior team played some friendly matches in Pune at the Balewadi stadium, Subrata Paul said that the Indian team received great support in Pune? How would you describe the Pune fans?

Raju: Yes I agree with Subrata. The Pune crowd was excellent. It was great to play in their presence. We also received great support for the game against Myanmar. The crowd was very supportive. The crowd was very encouraging and kept cheering for me whenever I went to take a throw-in. They motivated us a lot.

RK: How does it feel to be captain of the Indian U-23 team? How was your experience leading this young talented squad.

Raju: Being captain of this talented Indian team is a very good feeling. I am excited to lead this fantastic team. I myself have got good experience and support from all the players. I am proud to lead this team.

RK: The one thing every one likes about Raju Gaikwad are your throw-ins. Is it your strength? And your throw is very reminiscent of Rory Delap. Are you inspired by him?

Raju: (laughs) It is my great strength. I used to put in a lot of work on it. It is god gifted. I worked on it at TFA(TATA Football Academy) too.

RK: Describe your partnership with Arnab Mondal who is the captain of Chirag United. How do you bond with each other and motivate the team as a unit?

Raju: It is great to play with Arnab Mondal who has great experience at the highest level. He supported me well during my ankle injury. It was great to receive his support.

RK: How has it been under the able guidance of Des Bulpin who has nurtured players like Peter Crouch and Ledley King?

Raju: He is a very good coach. We feel better playing under an experienced European coach like Des. He is very positive coach who keeps encouraging us. The entire team is thankful to him. He has worked very hard for us and has supported us through thick and thin. His attitude is very positive. The youngsters need coaches who motivate and encourage them. We are honoured to play under such a coach with experience at the highest level.

RK: Describe the role of TFA in the development of players like you, Abhishek Das, Robin Singh, Gurjinder etc.

Raju: We had a great time at TFA. All of us had fantastic 4 years. We had a good experience with coaches over there. DP Choudhary and Vijay Kumar helped us a lot and we are grateful to them. We used to practice there morning and evening. The facilities provided by them were excellent. We enjoyed our stay at TFA and are thankful to them.

RK: Being the captain of Indian team how do you handle the additional media pressure, fan pressure and guide the players?

Raju: I only concentrate on the game. My team supports me in everything. So I handle it well thanks to the support of my team.

RK: You have been referred to as the future of Indian Football. Does it put additional pressure on you? Or is it an indication that you are on the right track? How do you look at it?

Raju: It really encourages me. I don’t let it affect me or make me complacent. I concentrate more on my game.

RK: Does Raju Gaikwad have aspirations to be captain of the senior team too one day?

Raju: Yes I want to be the captain of the senior team too one day. It is my dream to lead team India.

RK: Who is your idol? Which player do you look up to?

Raju: I am a Manchester United fan. Rio Ferdinand is my favourite player.

RK: You were born in Mumbai, your parents are from Pune. Given a choice to play between a club from Pune or Mumbai, which one would you choose?

Raju: I would prefer Pune. Because I have heard about the facilities provided by Pune FC. Pune FC also has an excellent support. I would prefer playing for a Pune club than a Mumbai one.

RK: What is the advice you want to give to youngsters who want to reach the level that you guys are playing at? One piece of advice for the budding footballers of our country.

Raju: I would advice them to enjoy their football. Be professional, work hard and concentrate on their game. Indian football is improving. Also they should focus on the physical aspect of the game. Because in the international games, the opponents tend to be physical. So improve on the strengths and be focussed.

RK: The Indian arrows was formed with the intention of a producing a team which would qualify for world cup 2018. Do you think that the Indian Arrows is a stepping stone towards the Indian National team?

Raju: The formation of Indian Arrows was a very good initiative by the AIFF. It is a privilege to be part of the team that has been formed with the goal of qualifying for the world cup. It is a great opportunity for all of us. We have performed very well as a team. In the I-League we avoided relegation playing against senior experienced players (Indian as well as International). It was a very big achievement and we have improved a lot as a team. I am proud of this team and the coach.