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.