‘Outside teams are not better than us’

IMRAN RAFIQUE

Age: 27

Position: Stopper

Teams played: YMCA, National Sports Dalgate, JK Forest, JK SRTC and JK Bank

Employer team: JK BANK

Hailing from Dalgate area of Srinagar, Imran started his career from National Sports Dalgate. Later he moved to YMCA, which was reckoned as top football club of the Valley then. Players like Mehraj-ud-Din Wadoo, Ishfaq Ahmad and Sajid Dar were playing in YMCA that time. From YMCA he moved to JK Forest, JK SRTC and later to his present team JK Bank. His performance always kept on improving and he brought a change in his game with each passing day. Imran didn’t participate in too many national level tournaments at school level because of injury. But still he played in two Subrotto Mukherjee national championships. With JK Bank, he has played in four Durand Cups, which can be termed as great achievement in the backdrop of historic importance that is attached with the tournament. He has also played alongside with JK Bank in B-Division and third Division national leagues. He has represented state in three Santosh Trophy events at Manipur, Faridabad and J&K. Imran has a good physique and height, which a defender requires, and he also has got good heading which a defender needs to clear ball from the box. Only thing he lacks, experts say, is man-to-man marking and if he improves it, he can be a better play. Imran has been appointed as captain of the team. There would be lot of pressure on him due to the captaincy burden. Imran says, “I thank JKFA for showing faith on me and giving me the responsibility of commanding team in the prestigious event. We have to prove a point we are capable of playing for the state.” “Outside teams are not better than us. Only thing we lack is experience and exposure. JK players have a lot of talent, but they need good guidance and coaching,” he said. About his own performance, Imran said,” I’ll give 100 percent and try to bring glory for the state.”

Published in Greater Kashmir on May 21 -2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=21_5_2009&ItemID=8&cat=4