Trupti Palkar in conversation with the Kandivli resident Karan Amin, hockey-turned-football player

Karan Amin, a 19-year-old Kandivli resident has made his mark in football at the national level. Karan never thought that he will ever get into football. He has been playing for the national level for football and is the youngest player in his team. His first break was with the team Mahindra. And now is continuing to play football for the Mumbai United team.

Karan Amin said, “I never wanted to become a footballer as when I was in school I used to play hockey. I continued with hockey till my SSC for around five years. I got admission in Bhavans College where I got myself registered in the football team.”

When asked about his switch from hockey to football and the difficulties he had to face while practicing, he said, “It was very hard for me to get into football as I was interested in hockey but soon seeing many of my friends, at Bhavans, play football I thought of getting into it. I started practicing but wasnt able to perform initially and everyone used to laugh at me. This motivated me to play the way I do at this age.”

He further added, “I was not chosen for the college team initially but I still continued to practice. Then one day my coach saw my performance and selected me to play for the Mumbai East India club. I had to discontinue playing football matches as I had to take a break for HSC exams.”

Telling about the matches he played and the achievements Karan elucidated, “I have been playing with team Mahindraz for three years. When I was 17-years-old I joined the Mumbai United which was an elite division team and I was the youngest player. Eventually I was selected for the Maharashtra team under-21. I was not only the youngest in this team but in the whole tournament. I played all the matches in the starting line-up and scored a goal. Also, I provided assistance to everyone. I also went for the Tata Football Academy matches in Jamshedpur. My team of Air India won against Indian Football academy. I have scored two goals on penalty shootouts, recently 1 in the Nadakarani cup and 1 in the Independence Cup and now we are getting ready for the junior league.”

His favourite positions to play are right half and sometimes left half. He says, “But my coach wants me to be on the right back position as he feels I am best suited for that.”
Cristiano Ronaldo is his role model and Karan idolizes him. About his parents support he said, “I want to be a good player like Cristiano Ronaldo and my parents are really supporting me. And they are really happy with my performance.”

What is it that is needed to become a good football player? He informed, “Mainly a good coaching. Secondly, a proper diet and taking rest is a must. The most important thing is one should be happy in whatever they do.”