Indian youngsters dream of seeing the Ronaldos and Messis play in front of their eyes but how many actually get to fulfill their wish? Maybe a handful, whose prosperous families finance a trip to Spain to make them happy.
But here’s a Kerala boy named Md. Ashique Kuruniyan, who will not only witness the greats in action from the sidelines but also ply his trade in that very country, thanks to a loan move from FC Pune City to Villarreal C.
Villarreal are one of the La Liga sides which pose real challenge to the two Madrids — Real and Atletico — and Barcelona and this might prove to be a path-breaking step in Kuruniyan’s career which took off since the time he was in the sixth standard.
He got selected for a coaching camp named ‘Mission India’ in Kerala’s Malappuram district, gave trials for the junior side of I-League club Pune FC (now disbanded) and then helped his team finish runners up in the 2014-15 U-19 I-League season.
The move to Pune FC academy which was later taken over by ISL franchise FC Pune City changed the complexion of Kuruniyan’s career. “After being with the Mission India program for three years, I played for Malappuram district and then went to Jharkhand’s SAI centre but there I had to deal with gross problems regarding the food and nutrition facilities. So once I made it to Pune FC, things got into place,” said Kuruniyan.
His name did the rounds in the junior circuit and soon the Kerala lad was picked for AIFF’s U-18 side in the FAM-Frenz Asia Champions Trophy and then donned the India jersey for the AFC U-19 Championships qualifiers in Palestine in the year 2015.
“Those two tournaments gave me a lot of experience. I realised that the players from other countries are a notch above us in terms of speed, decision making and technical aspects and that’s where the FC Pune City academy coach Roger Lamesa has worked a lot to improve us.”
Villarreal C play in the Tercera División, which is the fourth level of the Spanish football league system after Primera División (La Liga), Segunda División, and Segunda División B.
Kuruniyan however has a stiff target in place. “I want to learn as much as I can from the world class coaches over there. I am sure my game will improve once I train over there and would give my best to move up from Villarreal’s third team. I want to come back to India and wear the national team jersey,” said Kuruniyan.
It’s very important to have family’s support while following one’s passion and Kuruniyan can’t be enough thankful to his parents for being the perfect wall to rest on. “My father works in a small shop and as I have four siblings, there were some financial crunch in the initial stages but never did my parents discourage me from playing the game,” said Kuruniyan.
A left winger by trait, Kuruniyan is a big Lionel Messi fan but loves to follow the game of PSG star Angel di Maria. “I closely follow Di Maria as my game is quite similar to his and he dazzles as a winger, which amazes me.”
The young prodigy believes the football infrastructure in India has changed drastically over the years and that gives his country an extra push to move forward. “There’s hell and heaven of difference between the grounds on which I started playing and the ones on which I practice now. The FC Pune City academy takes care of our health and nutrition and the exquisite gym facility keeps us in shape. The scenario of football in India is changing and it can get a major boost if similar facilities come up in future.”
The 19-year-old may have taken a small step but who knows this may well turn out to be a giant leap for Indian football in future.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Kuruniyan")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}