18 Feb 2017 | 12:41am IST
Raju takes the US flight
Raju Vasudev Haldankar, a Goan footballer, won the National final of the Million Dollar Kick and is among the six Indians who will take the flight to the US to take part in the National Football League (NFL) training camp and probably make a career in the league.
All six were part of an event known as ‘Million Dollar Kick’ which was the culmination of city try outs in Goa, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Shillong, Dehradun, and Lucknow.
As Raju takes the flight for the first time ANANT BAKHALE takes a look at his background and his future plans
ANANT BAKHALE
Herald: What special do you do in your training for your success?
Raju Haldankar: My coaches always told me to believe in myself. ‘If you don't believe in yourself how do you expect others to believe in you’, they said. That is what I believed. Work hard and stay focussed on taking each and every day as a new challenge to learn something new and make fewer mistakes.
H: When did you start playing (age) and what made you prefer the NFL?
RH: I started playing at a very young age. My dad was a footballer too. He used to take me to watch his matches along since I was 7 or 8 years. I got the opportunity to kick at the MDK (million dollar kick) Goa trials that is where I got selected for NFL. Climax Lawrence and my well wishers encouraged me to kick which I did and today God has given me this opportunity which is a great feeling.
H: How many hours do you devote to practice?
RH: As a professional player when you choose a particular profession you give your life to it. I practise in the morning for almost one and half hour and in the evening I go to the gym or do yoga or go for swimming or ice bath which always keeps me in games. I also watch lot of matches on TV as well as live matches in Duler like the Goa Professional League. I am guided by my coach Bibian, who is currently India Under-17 coach. He always teaches new things which gave us the attitude of learning and fighting.
H: What would be your ultimate achievement?
RH: Representing national team will always be my ultimate achievement. I always watch Dempo Football Club team playing in previous years. But now the things are changed. Winning (Million Dollar Kick) itself is a huge achievement. I just want to learn and grow day by day from now and give my best.
H: How do you set your goals?
RH: For me I take one thing at the time. Keeping in mind that I have to move up in life step by step and be consistent. I also prepare myself mentality; that is my ‘A’ factor. Besides this I get motivation from my seniors who give me good push.
H: What is your biggest challenge, and what do you do to manage this challenge?
RH: The biggest challenge for me is my preparation for the NFL. As a fact if you do not prepare for what is coming towards you than you have no idea to deal with it. So I prepare myself in advance.
H: Where do you draw your inspiration from?
RH: I only know American football as rugby which I have seen in Hollywood movies.
But since I have won and came down to Goa from Delhi I have been on internet watching everything about NFL. So learning this will take help me reach the top.
H: What do you study? Do you find difficulty in devoting time for studies as well as football?
RH: I was studying in St Francis Xavier’s College, Mapusa before I got selected for Salgaocar. It was difficult for me to do College as well as football. So I choose football and took it as a top priority.
H: What was your greatest achievement? Any memorable tournament?
RH: When I was in with Sesa Football Academy we had a practice match with the India Under-17 team. Although we defeated them by just 1-0 margin, it was a special occasion and a great achievement for me. Besides this, winning a gold medal for Goa national at Fatorda in 2011-12, second position at Jharkhand Under-19 and claiming the runners-up trophy at the Durgapur, Kolkata are my special memories.
H: Anything else you’d like to share?
RH: I would like to thank my parents and MDK for such a great opportunity and also my former coaches especially Agustin, Bibian, Ajay and Anthon and others who are behind my success and who have always provided me a boost.
