Srinagar: Taking goliath steps in the Indian football field this 19-year old Kashmir footballer Muheet Shabir Khan is all set to feature in this season’s Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21. Khan will be the third Kashmiri player after Mehraj ud Din Wadoo and Ishfaq Ahmed to play for any ISL team.
Having joined Kerala Blasters year ago as Under-18 Goalkeeper, Muheet who hails from Srinagar's Batamaloo area has propelled himself up the ladder, first into reserve side and now into the team of Kerala Blasters for the current season of ISL.
This season ISL is booked to be held from November 2020 to March 2021 and is probably going to be held at three venues in Goa because of the pandemic.
“It is great to be with the main team of Kerala Blasters. I have worked hard to reach here and secure my place in the first team for this season's ISL. However, the work is still half done as there is a lot of competition in the team for the goalkeeper spot. There are already three top-level keepers in our side and I have to fight for my place with them,” Muheet said.
“I am confident that I will be able to get my chance to play in ISL as I have worked hard. Within a year of joining Kerala Blasters side on a five-year contract, I have pushed myself from Under-18 player to a Reserve side player and now into the main team all due to my hard work. I trust my abilities and trust my mentors back home who keep guiding me to push harder,” he said.
Muheet started playing football when he was a six-year-old under the guidance of his father Shabir Hussain who himself was an established footballer. Shabir was one of the top-level goalkeepers of J&K during his time and played for J&K in many nationals. It was Shabir who groomed and nurtured Muheet during his early career till he got a call from Sports Council Football Academy officials Mehraj ud Din Wadoo and Sajid Yousuf.
“Ishfaq Bhai who had seen me called my father and offered me the place in Kerala Blasters Under-18 side. My father agreed and they sent a ticket to Kerala. Next day I joined the Kerala side and there I was part of a 30-day selection process. I impressed the selectors and goalkeeping coach. They offered me a five-year contract and since then I am with the side,” Muheet said, adding, "I will be the third Kashmiri to represent any ISL team after Mehraj Bhai and Ishfaq Bhai. They have played football outside Kashmir for over 22 years, now I understand how hard it is and how they managed to survive."
Muheet is thankful to all his mentors and supporters who have backed him all through his career and want to establish himself as one of the top keepers of Country.
