Indian Football : Interview with Abhishek Das : Indian Arrows Player

Abhishek Das

Date of Birth	15th Nov 1993
Place of Birth	Kolkata
Height & Weight	5’7″ , 65 kgs
Playing Position	Right Back ( Indian Arrows )

Abhishek Das is a defender who plays for the I-league team ‘Indian Arrows’, formerly known as AIFF XI. The 17 year old was picked by the Delhi based club which was founded in 2010 to inject the country’s best under-23 footballers into the sport and help the nation qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Previously part of I-league giants East Bengal, the talented Das sat down with me for an interview.

Harmit : At what age did you start playing football ?Abhishek Das : 4 years.

Harmit : Where did you play football as a youngster?Abhishek Das : The prestigious Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur.

Harmit : Clubs/Teams played for so far ?Abhishek Das :Last year after passing out from TFA I signed for East Bengal but AIFF took me from them for Indian Arrows.

Harmit : Tell us which sportsperson inspires you the most.Abhishek Das : As any Indian football fan would say, Baichung Bhutia.

Harmit : Some of your happiest moments (football and non-football related)?

Abhishek Das : A) When i was selected at the Captain for the U-14 Indian team.B) when I got selected for Indian arrows.C) When i got selected for TFA ( Tata Football Academy ).

Harmit : Some of your sad moments (football and non-football related)Abhishek Das : When my left ankle broke in 2007 and when my team loses any football match.

Harmit : Your football related goals and ambitions.Abhishek Das : I want to play for our senior national team…and want to become a star of Indian football

Harmit : What do you like to do for fun?Abhishek Das : I love to spend some time with my friends..

Harmit : Your best friends in Indian football?Abhishek Das : Manish Mathani, Juaqim Abranches, Arindam bhai

Harmit : Any superstitions before or during a game.Abhishek Das : None

Harmit : Favourite Food (Any favourite Indian foods?)Abhishek Das : Anything cooked by my mother.

Harmit : Favourite kind of music.Abhishek Das : Slow sad songs.

Harmit : Your favourite place where you like to play (stadium or city)Abhishek Das : ybk…Kolkata.

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

Abhishek Das : Colin tole, Tanumoy Basu,Ranjan chowdhary,Bulpin Desmond.

Harmit : Favourite Food (Any favourite Indian foods?)Abhishek Das : Anything cooked by my mother.

Harmit : Favourite kind of music.Abhishek Das : Slow sad songs.

A passionate footballer who believes his life is nothing without football, India needs more such youngsters to promote the sport

Harmit : What did you think is your strength as a player?Abhishek Das : Positive attitude.

Harmit : What would you say is your weakness as a player?Abhishek Das : My height.

Harmit : If you were not a footballer, what would you have been?Abhishek Das : Without football I’m useless. It what makes me function.

Harmit : People who have helped you reach this far and you are thankful to.Abhishek Das : My parents, my coaches, and specially to GOD

Harmit : Many thanks for sparing the time for us.

Here’s wishing Abhishek Das all success. Under talented Indian Arrows coach Desmond Bulpin, whose previous stints include Queens Park Rangers (where he worked closely with Peter Crouch), Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City, Das has a bright future ahead of him as his coach believes that development of footballers is more important than winning . Let us hope that Das grows to play an important role in fulfilling AIFF’s vision of helping India qualify for the 2018 World Cup.