Siddharth Mookerjee is just like any 17 year old. However, unlike most others, he is amongst the growing list of Indian youngsters who can claim to have trained at European clubs such as AIK, Bayern Munich and 1899 Hoffenheim apart from being in touch with FC Porto and LA Galaxy for stints there. After excelling and rising through the ranks at the domestic level, Siddharth is now hoping to reach the next level.
footballer Siddharth Mookerjee
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Sportskeeda chatted with this upcoming footballer on his story so far, about the immediate future, and on his training stints in Europe.
You started playing football at the age of 5. The cricket Gods of the country and majority of Indian parents will be unfamiliar with that. Jokes apart, Tell us about your earliest days with the beautiful game and something about your family.
Siddharth Mookerjee : In my family, apart from me, there is my Mom and Dad. When I was 5, my mom wanted me to play a sport and we were based in Chandigarh that time so my mom took to me to a cricket academy and there the coach said I was too small I will get hurt by the ball. So he suggested I should join a football academy and then he gave me and my mom the contact details and we went. Mr Bhupinder Singh was the Head Coach of the St Stephens Football Academy in Chandigarh. This is how I started playing football and developed the passion.
Shed some light on your footballing journey through school.
Siddharth Mookerjee : I started playing for my school DPS Gurgaon at the age of 12 my coach Mr Pradeep saw me play and said i should try for the Gurgaon team and on the basis of that I will be selected for the state team. I went for the trials got selected for Gurgaon then we played a few matches there and then I was selected for the Haryana camp. I went to Haldwani in Uttaranchal with the Haryana team. On the basis of that, the Haryana Federation sent my name for the India U16 camp but now I am trying to attend the U19 camp soon. Last year I joined the The Shri Ram School where my coach Keshav Dutt made me play some good competitive tournaments and our school played in the Subroto Cup too last year. So this is how my Indian Football journey started.
Tell us something about your game. Which position do you play in?
Siddharth Mookerjee : I am natural Left Footer but I can use my right foot as well. I usually play as a left winger but sometimes I am sent upfront because of my speed.
How did the training exposure at Bayern Munich go? Nervous excitement on the first day at such a illustrious club?
Siddharth Mookerjee : My training exposure at Bayern Munich was amazing . It was like a dream come true to go and train with one of the best football clubs on the planet. I trained with their U16 team for 4 days and it was a great exposure for me, the facilities there were amazing I met some of the German national team and Bayern Munich first team players and saw them train, that gave me an idea how good you exactly have to be to play at an international level.
Apart from also training at Hoffenheim, I believe you had a trial with Swedish Club AIK ? How was the trial?
Siddharth Mookerjee :Yes My trial was good I again learnt alot . The people were so friendly in Sweden I felt like I was at home. They said to come back again in my convenience because they liked the passion for the game inside me and told me the areas to work on where I lack. So I hope to go back sometime soon.
Please tell our readers about of the difference in training quality since you have first hand knowledge of the same.
Siddharth Mookerjee : The difference in the training is that they have world class facilities they have really very very good coaches. India is not bad at all at having coaches even the training is good. The area where India lacks is there food diet, it is all wrong. There are no good grounds to train on, no care is taken on these things. If all these things improve I have no doubt India can too reach the International level.
You have been selected for the Pune FC U-19s. Do you plan to continue with it? If not, what are your immediate plans?
Siddharth Mookerjee :I have kept that as a fall back option to Join Pune FC or any other Indian club. Right now I am planning to join some academies and tying up with football agents in Europe. On the basis of my game then I hope to join a club soon.
Are interested foreign and Indian clubs in contact with you or given you a call to come over and train?
Siddharth Mookerjee : As of now many academies in Europe are ready to take me in and I am thinking about it at the moment where to go and which one to choose, From these academies many clubs scouts come to watch games so its a great chance to impress them. Some academies that have had contact with me are UK Football Academy, Brooke House College Football Academy, Wolverhampton College football academy and Fundaction Marcet in Barcelona.
Isn’t it unfortunate that everyone who shows exceptional talent at this age like Avyay Gujral, Raghav Khurrana and yourself need to go abroad and train to develop more as a footballer and athlete?
Siddharth Mookerjee : As of now there is unfortunately no infrastructure in India but if few things are taken care of like food diet, ground conditions, good stadiums etc , it will surely become a good place to play in the future.
How realistic is it for an Indian youngster with ability to dream of a senior professional career in Europe? How do they go around the tough Work Permit issues amongst other things given India’s low FIFA ranking?
Siddharth Mookerjee : Well it will be surely beneficial to go abroad and play. The work permit is really a big problem in the UK. Other countries in Europe most likely take players at 18 and maybe earlier if a player is really good. In countries like America and Canada, at the age of 18, you can get your international transfer certificate whereas in England the goverment is really strict and rejects work permits, for example Sunil Chetri was selected for Queens Park Rangers but work permit got rejected and now he is playing in the MLS now. So work permits are always easier outside the UK In my opinion.
What are your plans with respect to further studies?
Siddharth Mookerjee : I would like to do a sports diploma course something related to sport only in my further studies.
Apart from Europe, how are places like USA, Canada or even the Far East as a potential destination?
Yes I have a given a thought to go the USA or Australia these are nations with great sporting culture and I need something like that for the beginning. I have infact found a few options there so I am working on it, if not Europe then one of these two for sure.
Ok, some random quick ones now.
How do you unwind : Facebook, talking on the phone, hearing music etc.
English Champions this season : I have a feeling United or Arsenal will win this year.
Your favourite Indian player : Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chetri. They are very hard working and made it big for India.
Your favourite club : Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Spurs. No specific club as such
Favourite Delhi hangout : My favourite delhi hang out is Select City Walk Mall in Saket
And finally, your ultimate dream : Make it into leagues either in Europe or America and play for India.
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