Raju Gaikwad
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240 Points
Raju has been one of the finds of this season. We will use this thread to discuss about him.
Admin
240 Points
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The Almighty isn’t always kind to all. Some are born more talented than others. Tell it to India’s U-23 Captain Raju Eknath Gaikwad and there’s a shake of the head. You repeat it -- he will shake his head again.
“I’ve heard Diego Maradona once said – ‘The Libero is the Owner of the Field.’ I feel the same on the ground,” he breaks his silence. “Defending teaches you to anticipate things even in your personal life. I’m lucky in that aspect,” he defends. “You learn to be patient and stay calm.”
“A defender is like a dam. You need to absorb the attacks; stop them. It gives a sense of unique pleasure to ruin an opponent’s plan,” he adds even as he increases the volume as Wayne Rooney celebrates one of his goals on Television.
“Isn’t he special?” Raju refers to Rooney. “He is special, I know,” he answers himself back. I add: ‘How would you have planned against him?’
“A defender needs to anticipate. You need a quick presence of mind,” and he goes back into his shell. Rooney had finished his celebration by then. I try to move on but am unable to; Raju has become a ‘dam’ again.
Chief Coach Desmond Buplin winks: “Raju is special, very special. We need to nurture him. He’s not even 21.”
It was Bimal Ghosh who had advised midfielder Raju to play as a stopper-back. Since then he moved onto to graduate from the Tata Football Academy and then make an impression in the AFC U-19 Qualifiers.
Room mate Shilton D’Silva who has been listening all till now, gets the ball rolling. “Never go by his looks. I tell you, Raju is a prankster. Can anyone ever gauge that?” Shilton joins the fun. Raju shakes his head again. On the Plasma, United were all over the place. Raju quips: “I’ve heard the Al Sadd Stadium is a replica of the Old Trafford,” he refers to India’s Pre-Olympic Qualifier against Qatar.
Fearing he may get back into his shell again, I ask: ‘Don’t you want to play abroad?’
“I want to. My agent is trying for trials. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”
“We need more FIFA approved agents in India. It’s a quintessential part of the sport. Just look at Africa and one should understand,” he opines.
I nod. Shilton listens.
You couldn’t counter him. David Livingstone had called Africa the ‘Dark Continent.’ But the Savannas had bowed their heads to welcome the agents since the mid-nineties. The World got their Yekinis and the Kanus; the Eto’o-s and the Drogbas followed.
“Isn’t India on the verge of a football explosion?” Raju turns his head towards Shilton. “We need more agents,” The shake of the head was unmistakable.
Raju has already been dubbed the ‘Next Big-Star of Indian Football,’ by most. ‘The next pin-up boy,” Shilton hints.
“Star?” he shakes his head – perhaps for the umpteenth time. “I’m still a learner. I don’t want to become a Star. Let me be the prankster. I want to play. It gives me solace. There’s nothing better for me than football.”
He knows to tackle. He knows how to switch it to the other end. Bulpin’s comments ring in my ears. This kid is special for sure. ‘And he’s not even 21.’
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Nickname : Prankster <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_wink.gif" alt=";)" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) -->
Position : Defence
Place of Birth : Mumbai
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+1...
They are good defenders... also Raju and Gourmangi can score/assist for the goals... I still can't forget the goal scored by Gourmangi in asian cup.. <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_e_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D --> <!-- s
<P><A href="http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/raju-gaikwad-india-u-23-captain-tht-exclusive-interview/">http://www.thehardtackle.com/2012/raju-gaikwad-india-u-23-captain-tht-exclusive-interview/</A></P>;