Where are once prospective potential players now?

indian_gooner

As IFN is about to enter 10 years since its origin in early 2011, and during these lockdown period, I came upon an article regarding a player in Arsenal named Thomas Cruise who played just once for the first team I thought of many players who at the time in youth were once considered a bright prospect but faded from the limelight due to various reasons.

https://www.planetfootball.com/quick-reads/where-are-they-now-every-player-to-play-once-for-arsenal-under-wenger/

This name striked me because I had read his debut news which was hyped because of the name getting famous because of actor Tom Cruise in The Sun newspaper online when I was in computer lab in college days playing fantasy premier league.

So creating a thread for Indian players to see where they are. Are they even playing football?

indian_gooner

The first Indian player which comes to my mind is Avyay Gujral. Back in 2010 when facebook usage was just catching up and also because of sportskeeda article naming some youth sportspesons to look out for in India in different sports, Avyay Gujral caught many attention primarly because of his trials (don't know how much authentic) with Manchester City. He gave many facebook photos in his page but after a while don't know about his status. In early days of IFN, he was a widely discussed youth players where I myself posted comments regarding his selection in senior team at age of 16-17 because if Theo Walcott/Wayne Rooney can do it, who not an Indian player .

Also I rememeber me commenting about him to replace Samir Nasri's (whom I hated afterr he joined City by leaving arsenal ) from dipped from the Manchester city first team

ashindia

Former JCT products and India Internationals Baldeep Singh and Jagpreet singh were arrested for rape in 2012. Jagpreet last  played for Minerva and no whereabouts of Baldeep Singh. Both played for India and were young.

Number 7 - Baldeep


https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/east-bengal-midfielder-jagpreet-singh-released-on-bail

thebeautifulgame

I don't know whether this post qualifies for this thread but I am putting it here for those who are interested

Former I-League winner Bineesh Balan who played for Churchill Brothers and Pune FC now works as a daily wage labourer. His career got derailed due to injury. The last major club he played was Pune FC in the 2014-15 season. He was unsold in the 2015 ISL auctions. He failed to get a government job.

I-League-winning striker battles to make ends meet

https://www.hindustantimes.com/football/i-league-winning-striker-battles-to-make-ends-meet/story-vs8GYajb9Ke1MwsFxiTg7J.html

Once a hot property in Indian football, this winger now works as daily wager 

https://www.onmanorama.com/sports/football/2020/11/01/bineesh-balan-former-churchill-winger-now-works-as-daily-wager.html

munna219777

sad to hear about Bineesh

souravindia

This is the reason why footballer wages needs to be high. While the period is short if there is any injury, then very few will actually get through and do well.

indian_gooner

2010 article

https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/gurgaon-lad-on-his-way-to-man-city/story-gRWIPKkerlZoaOwQTDYw9I.html

On Sunday, Gujral, now 16, leaves for Manchester, where he will undergo a one-week trial with the latest giants of English football, Manchester City. If he does well, he will spend a year at the City academy, where he will be honed by top coaches and will have access to some of the best training facilities.

Junk food, parties, discovering girls and hanging out with friends are for other kids. Gurjal trains twice a day under Ahmad Nasir, a strength and conditioning expert, who also works with tennis player Yuki Bhambri. “I train for about four hours a day.

in 2020

never expected to find like this

https://www.linkedin.com/in/avyay-gujral-280636ab/

https://prnt.sc/vpzyrn

https://prnt.sc/vq00ao

https://prnt.sc/vq00x0

as an IT professional myself, I am ashamed that I don't have a well updated linked in profile as this guy.

thebeautifulgame

"as an IT professional myself, I am ashamed that I don't have a well updated linked in profile as this guy." 

@indian_gooner: Don't be! I am an Assistant Professor of English and I don't have a smartphone, a Facebook profile and a WhatsApp number, not to talk of LinkedIn. And I am unashamed!

It takes all sorts to make a world.

debarghya89

Pratik Shinde is another name that instantly comes to my mind

thebeautifulgame

Another sad story...found this 2019 article. He was suffering from lung infection then and had not played football for over a year

The company of birds and unwavering spirit is keeping this promising footballer going

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/sport/cricket/highs-hindrance-hope/articleshow/68039770.cms

ashindia

Few that I remember - Malswamfela, Branco Cardozo, Vimal Pariyar, Lalampuia, Uttam Rai, NS Manju, Alwyn George, Romeo Fernandes , Jerry Zirsanga, Manandeep Singh, Shilton D Silva