Suman Chakravorty: “A lot of football success is in the mind. You must believe that you are the best and then make sure that you are.” – Bill Shankly’s famous words perhaps the closest to narrate the journey of Mohun Bagan’s latest signing and arguably the best defender of the ongoing Calcutta Football League this season. The tall, strong and flamboyant lad from a remote village of Amritsar had an uphill journey to get the jersey of the Kolkata giant, which happens to be a dream for all the footballers in the country.
Dalraj was telling www.xtratime.in, “I started my playing career as a kabaddi player. My dad is a farmer by profession and my mom is a housewife. In my early days, I used to play six months of kabaddi and six months of football. I worked with my dad in the farming as well.”
Dalraj was recapitulating, “I was applying for the jobs in Punjab Police and various other sectors. Had a family pressure as well, so there was a point when I was thinking of settling on abroad. Eventually, that didn’t happen as I got the job in the Indian Navy.”
He started his tenure in Kolkata for Southern Samity a few years back where he caught the eyes of his present coach and Guru Biswajit Bhattacharya. He also got an offer from East Bengal a few years back. But he refused the deal for a definite reason. He was clarifying, “The problem was with getting the NOC. As an employee of the Indian Navy, I only get one year NOC every season. They wanted me on a three-year deal. It was not possible for me to accept the offer.”
Dalraj wants to show his gratitude towards his coach Biswajit Bhattacharya, he was saying, “Biswajit Sir is someone who has changed my career as a footballer. He signed me for Mohammedan Sporting in the last season but due to so many options at the back, I couldn’t get much playing time last season. But Biswajit Sir was always there as my motivator. He polished my technical skills every day. Even this season, when I was supposed to join Tollygunge Agragami, Sir called me and asked me to join him at Peerless. I didn’t think twice to take the decision.” He continued, “Sir not only changed me technically, but he also worked on my fitness. I’m a fitter, better player now. In university or office, you don’t get much coaching, in a way, Biswajit Sir has been my first coach.”
Mohun Bagan has been a fresh air to his career, as he has already set the resolution of his career, “Every Indian player wants to play at least once for Mohun Bagan or East Bengal. It’s a huge moment and opportunity for me. I signed the contract until the end of this season. Honestly, I have no interest so far about the ISL. All that I want is to play for my country, that blue jersey is my mission. I want to make my dad, Biswajit Sir and my countrymen proud someday. And I will keep chasing my dream with hard work and honesty.”
The way Dalraj was saying the last few words, it seemed the courage, the determination and focus of this lad have already started pushing him towards his goal, the goal to conquer the dreams of a struggler.