Auto driver’s dream turns real, his son is Kerala’s new football sensation
ON THURSDAY, when Kerala played Karnataka in the Santosh Trophy semifinal, Mohammed Nizar desperately wanted to watch the game from the stands. But by the time the auto driver from Nilambur in Malappuram had finished his day’s trips, it was too late to reach the stadium in Manjeri, some 30 km away, in time for the 8.30 pm kick-off.
And so, it was on live stream that Nizar finally saw his 22-year-old son Jesin T K, the latest football sensation in Kerala, create history by scoring five goals in his team’s 7-3 win after coming on as a substitute.
Jesin is now the first player to score five goals as a substitute in Santosh Trophy history. He is also the new owner of the Kerala record for the most number of goals in a game in the tournament — previously held by Asif Saheer, who had scored four against Bihar in the 1999 edition. Come Monday, Jesin’s father Nizar is not taking any chances.
When Kerala take on West Bengal in the final, he plans to call it a day by the afternoon, and travel with the family to Manjeri to watch the big game. A football-crazy father who nurtured a football-crazy son in a football-crazy land, Nizar says it will be the biggest day of his life.
And in a way, he is realising his unfulfilled dreams through his son.
A young Jesin with his family. His father drives an auto in Malappuram.
“I wanted to become a footballer but I was not focussed. I got into various sports, such as athletics, basketball and kabaddi, and ended up becoming no one. I did not have anyone to advise me properly. Jesin was also good in athletics and he was into sprinting and all. The one advice I gave my son was to focus on just one thing at a time and I’m happy that he has stuck to football,” Nizar said.
Against Karnataka, Jesin was brought on in the 30th minute when the hosts were trailing by a goal. Within four minutes, the striker levelled the score by lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper after showcasing his pace to get to a through-pass.
Then, he struck again in the 42nd and 44th minutes to complete a hat-trick within 15 minutes — and set Kerala on their way to a convincing win before adding two more goals in the second half.
Jesin, who plays for Kerala United, says he owes his rise to Bino George, the Kerala coach who also guides the club, as well as the coaches at MES College in Mampad where he is pursuing graduation in Arabic.
“I have never been part of any district team. But I got the chance to play I-League second division, Kerala Premier League and now Santosh Trophy due to my coaches at MES, Rafeeq sir and Murugan sir, and George sir,” he said.
Jesin’s grandmother also played a key role in his early years into football, says his father.
When Jesin was a child, it got difficult to manage with my meagre earnings as an auto driver and I went to the Gulf for a few years and worked there. During that time, it was my mother (Aamina) who used to take him to a football academy in Nilambur. She wanted him to become a footballer just as much as I did. Unfortunately, she died when he was in the eighth standard. She would have been the happiest today,” Nizar said.
The elders in the family also chipped in to help Jesin buy football boots.
Jesin is not the only player from Malappuram who has thrived in front of his own people. The two other goalscorers for Kerala against Karnataka also hail from the district: midfielders Arjun Jayaraj, who plays for Kerala United, and N S Shighil of Bengaluru FC (reserves). Defenders Mohammed Saheef, and midfielders Salman K and Fasalu Rahman, make it six players from Malappuram in the Kerala squad.
And if Kerala go on to beat West Bengal for their seventh crown, and the first after the 2018 edition, it will be remembered for the Malappuram flavour in more ways than one. On Monday, at least 25,000 are expected to pack the stadium.
“The crowds here are so passionate about football and they get right behind us. Their support is a huge motivation for us as players and it boosts our energy,” Jesin said.
“We have already beaten West Bengal in the group stage (2-0). We know how they play and if we play to our potential, I’m sure we can win the final too. We will give it our all for sure. Hopefully, I can be the super-sub once again.”
Why don't Indian NT play a friendly against the best foreign players playing in Indian leagues? I think Malasia has a system like that where at tge end if season tgey hold a match between their NT vs. Best Foreigners' 11. Such a match would give our NT much more of a challenge.
What motivation will the foreigners have for playing against the Indian team? The I league team would instead give it their 100%
Government is on the cusp of derecognizing AIFF. Sports Ministry is convinced that the current AIFF office bearers are corrupt and any money allotted there is basically syphoned off. India has noting to show for in football in last 40 years, nothing!
Why don't Indian NT play a friendly against the best foreign players playing in Indian leagues? I think Malasia has a system like that where at tge end if season tgey hold a match between their NT vs. Best Foreigners' 11. Such a match would give our NT much more of a challenge.
i have a vague memory of such a match being held behind closed doors in around 2000s. i think foreign XI won 3-0. it was reported in times of india. no telecast, no fans. what a missed opportunity of getting a decent competitive game after the league is over. Alsp expense is less as forigen players can stay upto 1 week after the league is over before they head to home.
Why can't they have an Season Ending game with Indian XI v Foreign XI. Like an All stars game. Indian XI will be practically Indian National Team and can have National Team as coach and he selects the team. Foreign XI can be picked up by the Championship Winning Coach and can have all the foreigners playing their trade in ISL/I-League.
Guys. Players should have some monetary/sponsorship benefits along with clubs approval. Else why would foreign players play this namesake friendly. Atleast there should be some kind of motivation.
In Pre Season they can play as a fitness testing game or a promotion event. After the season ending, they do not want to get injured. Monetary or fitness benefit is not present for them They sign up a deal with club, not with AIFF
Why can't they have an Season Ending game with Indian XI v Foreign XI. Like an All stars game. Indian XI will be practically Indian National Team and can have National Team as coach and he selects the team. Foreign XI can be picked up by the Championship Winning Coach and can have all the foreigners playing their trade in ISL/I-League.
yes yes. this has been my mann ki baaat . Maybe we may not involve NT coach but any of the two finalists coach since they have been there from the season begining. Indian XI should not be neccessarly NT regular players but best XI from the season. Suppose from current season if GSS, Sunil, Manvir are not in best XI, then so be it.
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Auto driver’s dream turns real, his son is Kerala’s new football sensation
ON THURSDAY, when Kerala played Karnataka in the Santosh Trophy semifinal, Mohammed Nizar desperately wanted to watch the game from the stands. But by the time the auto driver from Nilambur in Malappuram had finished his day’s trips, it was too late to reach the stadium in Manjeri, some 30 km away, in time for the 8.30 pm kick-off.
And so, it was on live stream that Nizar finally saw his 22-year-old son Jesin T K, the latest football sensation in Kerala, create history by scoring five goals in his team’s 7-3 win after coming on as a substitute.
Jesin is now the first player to score five goals as a substitute in Santosh Trophy history. He is also the new owner of the Kerala record for the most number of goals in a game in the tournament — previously held by Asif Saheer, who had scored four against Bihar in the 1999 edition.
Come Monday, Jesin’s father Nizar is not taking any chances.
And in a way, he is realising his unfulfilled dreams through his son.
A young Jesin with his family. His father drives an auto in Malappuram.
“I wanted to become a footballer but I was not focussed. I got into various sports, such as athletics, basketball and kabaddi, and ended up becoming no one. I did not have anyone to advise me properly. Jesin was also good in athletics and he was into sprinting and all. The one advice I gave my son was to focus on just one thing at a time and I’m happy that he has stuck to football,” Nizar said.
Against Karnataka, Jesin was brought on in the 30th minute when the hosts were trailing by a goal. Within four minutes, the striker levelled the score by lifting the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper after showcasing his pace to get to a through-pass.
Then, he struck again in the 42nd and 44th minutes to complete a hat-trick within 15 minutes — and set Kerala on their way to a convincing win before adding two more goals in the second half.
Jesin, who plays for Kerala United, says he owes his rise to Bino George, the Kerala coach who also guides the club, as well as the coaches at MES College in Mampad where he is pursuing graduation in Arabic.
“I have never been part of any district team. But I got the chance to play I-League second division, Kerala Premier League and now Santosh Trophy due to my coaches at MES, Rafeeq sir and Murugan sir, and George sir,” he said.
Jesin’s grandmother also played a key role in his early years into football, says his father.
When Jesin was a child, it got difficult to manage with my meagre earnings as an auto driver and I went to the Gulf for a few years and worked there. During that time, it was my mother (Aamina) who used to take him to a football academy in Nilambur. She wanted him to become a footballer just as much as I did. Unfortunately, she died when he was in the eighth standard. She would have been the happiest today,” Nizar said.
The elders in the family also chipped in to help Jesin buy football boots.
Jesin is not the only player from Malappuram who has thrived in front of his own people. The two other goalscorers for Kerala against Karnataka also hail from the district: midfielders Arjun Jayaraj, who plays for Kerala United, and N S Shighil of Bengaluru FC (reserves). Defenders Mohammed Saheef, and midfielders Salman K and Fasalu Rahman, make it six players from Malappuram in the Kerala squad.
And if Kerala go on to beat West Bengal for their seventh crown, and the first after the 2018 edition, it will be remembered for the Malappuram flavour in more ways than one. On Monday, at least 25,000 are expected to pack the stadium.
“The crowds here are so passionate about football and they get right behind us. Their support is a huge motivation for us as players and it boosts our energy,” Jesin said.
“We have already beaten West Bengal in the group stage (2-0). We know how they play and if we play to our potential, I’m sure we can win the final too. We will give it our all for sure. Hopefully, I can be the super-sub once again.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/auto-drivers-dream-turns-real-his-son-is-keralas-new-football-sensation-7896737/
After the season ending, they do not want to get injured. Monetary or fitness benefit is not present for them
They sign up a deal with club, not with AIFF