In a freewheeling interview with Anandabazar Patrika, Japanese midfielder Katsumi Yusa has revealed that while playing for an amateur club in Japan, he did not get any payment. So he had to work as a bartender and even as a joker to earn money. Masquerading as a cat or tiger to entertain children, he had to stand in one place for hours together. He could not drink water, sometimes could get half an hour's rest, sometimes not even that. He was also compelled to work as a worker in a factory. But even during those testing times, he was obsessed by the thought of one day making it big in the footballing arena. Those times, as he says, had made him all the more determined, more determined and more focussed. From his beginnings in Indian football when he used to stay in the footballers' colony in ONGC to the present when he dwells in a plush flat in Kolkata, he has been guided by the same principles-discipline, hard work and planning.His day begins with meditation and ends also with meditation. Just goes on to show that if you have stars in your eyes and your feet firmly planted on the ground, you can go places in any field. Way to go, lad!
Apropos the above comments, one Indian player who has gone through a lot of trials and tribulations and has come out with flying colours is the Mohun Bagan custodian, Debjit Majumder. While playing for East Bengal during the 2011-2012 season, the East Bengal fans spit at him when the club had lost a match. His career seemed to be on the rocks and he was forced to play for the second division team Bhawanipore FC for two seasons. Although he was signed by Mohun Bagan in 2014, he could not find a place in the starting eleven because the first choice goalkeeper was Shilton Paul. But cometh the man, cometh the moment. Because of the injury to Shilton, he found a place in the side that the Derby against East Bengal on 28th March 2015 and almost single-handedly won the match for them by saving five almost sure goals. After that, there was no looking back as he became Sanjoy Sen's first-choice goalkeeper in the I-League and turned out one match-winning performance after another. Though he was awarded the best goalkeeper of the I-League, he couldn't find a place in Constantine's National Football Team. Not one to be cowed down by such disappointments, he went on to work about in his usual calm way, practising harder and working on his skills. Although he was drafted to play for Mumbai City FC in the 2015-16 ISL, he could make only two appearances. Even Sanjoy Sen did not use him in the starting eleven in the first two matches of the I-League and it was Shilton's injury again which paved the way for his return. What I particularly like about him is the commitment in the field, it seems that he is putting more than 100 per cent whenever he is on the field and the fact that he does not whine or moan against any coach, whether at the club or at the national level, even though he has been unjustly denied his place quite often in the team.
@usaindia Maybe a few years ago but if you are in MLS or NASL (tiers 1 and 2) you are pretty much fully-pro. Minimum wage in MLS is now just above $60,000 and that is really only for first year players now.
USL still has a few 2nd job guys but if you are a regular then you will be full-time easily.
4th division is where you are semi-pro and amateur.
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USL still has a few 2nd job guys but if you are a regular then you will be full-time easily.
4th division is where you are semi-pro and amateur.