ONGC I-League: Interview with Salgaocar Goalkeeper Kalyan Chaubey

Kalyan Chaubey is a product of India’s famed Tata Football Academy (TFA). Kalyan is currently is the starting goalkeeper for Salgaocar in the i-League. Kalyan holds many unique distinctions, he started as a winger before becoming a goalkeeper and he has probably played the most number of matches after Bhaichung. He has played for distinguished clubs like Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mahindra Utd,JCT, Salgaocar, Mumbai FC, Chirag Utd and Fransa FC

Harmit: Kalyan, a lot of people are not aware of the fact that you have been in Indian Football, probably for as long as the much famed – Bhaichung Bhutia, in terms of the number of matches. How did this long journey start?

Kalyan: When I was 12 and a half years old, got an opportunity to attend a trial by Sports Authority of India and fortunately got selected and since then I have been playing football and took up this sport as my profession.

Harmit: Is it true that you were a winger in your initial days? When and how did the move to being a goalkeeper come about?

Kalyan: I used to play as a right-winger in my school team. During a match of a school tournament, when our keeper was sent off and we conceded a penalty, the coach asked me to stand under the bar, fortunately I saved that penalty and we won the game. From then onwards I had become goalkeeper of my school team and followed it up from there on.

Kalyan Chaubey

Harmit: Where did you play football as a youngster and how was the experience at TFA (Tata Football Academy).

Kalyan: I stayed in Kolkata SAI for 3 months and moved to TFA on January 1^st 1990, stayed there for 6 long years and acknowledged by TFA Blue Certificate on 31st March 1996. It was a wonderful experience.

Harmit: Which Sports persons & Teams do you admire?

Kalyan: I admire many people that are from different walks of life, not necessarily sports persons. I am a fan of Mohun Bagan.

Harmit: Now, let us come to some serious business, what do you like to eat?

Kalyan: Anything (digestible), which is not too spicy or oily

Harmit: And favourite kind of music?

Kalyan: Soft / Country

Harmit: Share with us some of your happiest moments sporting and personal.

Kalyan: When I got married to my wife Sohini, When I became father of a baby girl, when I wore National Jersey for the first time. My first visit to Europe

Harmit:What about the sad ones? Any?

Kalyan: Any goal I concede is sad for me, Any match that we lose that’s the saddest moment for me.

Harmit: What are your football related goals?

Kalyan: I want to stay attached and work with football till the day I die. I want to work as CEO for I-league.

Harmit: Any other Favourite sport other than football?

Kalyan: Swimming

Harmit: What do you like to do for fun? Besides Football, that is.

Kalyan: Many things, depends upon my mood, off late I am spending maximum time with my daughter (who is just 8 months old) and feeling relaxed.

Harmit: Who are your best friends that play in the Salgaocar Team and others from the I-League.Kalyan: In Salgaocar, most of my mates are best of my friends, but, particularly I think I would like to mention Abhay Kumar’s name, I am pretty close to him he has retired due to an unfortunate knee injury. We have started our career together from TFA.

Harmit: Many players have superstitions in football, any superstitions before or during a game?

Kalyan: Yes I have got some (let it be a secret !!) but Jersey # 13 is one among them.

Harmit: Which is your favourite place where you like to play?

Kalyan: Salt lake Stadium, Kolkata

Harmit: Who do you confide in and seek guidance from when it comes to football?

Kalyan: I speak a lot with myself – especially when things do not go well, I keep asking myself, “what should I do to overcome these obstacles?”.

Harmit: Whom do you credit for the most for being what you are today?

Kalyan: My Parents – especially my mother has a lot of contribution towards whatever I am today.

Harmit: What did you think are your strengths and weaknesses as a player?

Kalyan: Hahahaa ! I am still looking for strengths. This is not the right place to disclose my weakness, as I don’t want my opponent to be well aware of my them.

Harmit: If you were not a footballer, what would you have been?

Kalyan: Given a choice, I would have joined the Defense – Army, Navy or Air Force. I admire people in uniform. But when I chose football as my career I was too young to decide about my profession.

Harmit: Who are the best coaches that you have played under so far?

Fortunately, I have played under many coaches and happy to say that most of them were good tacticians but I respect Mr Sukhwinder Singh as a gentleman and Mona Ranjan Bhattacharya as an honest man.

Harmit: Many thanks for sparing the time for us.

Kalyan: Pleasure is mine.

Edited By : Arpit Kumar