‘We’ll easily qualify from our pool’

ASHIQ MUSHTAQ

Age: 22

Position: Defender

Teams played: YMCA, Iqbal Sports-A, C and JK Forest

Employer Team: JK Forest

A highly talented defender, Ashiq plays every match with complete dedication. Ashiq started playing football with Iqbal Sports-C where he got basic coaching. After two years, Ashiq was promoted from Iqbal Sports-C to Iqbal Sports –A which is super-division league side. For Iqbal Sports, his performance in the league tournaments was good that prompted Forest to select him. From last five years, he has been an integral part of Forest, which is reckoned among top three teams of J&K.Ashiq has represented state in two under-16 national tournaments in Uttranchal and Bhopal. He has also represented state in under-19 tournament twice in Basti, Uttar Pradesh and Banaras. In Banaras national, he was captain of the JK team.Ashiq has represented his employer team four times in the prestigious All India Forest Meet and performance of JK Forest team was good in all the events. They lifted the trophy once and remained runner-up on three occasions.Mumbai and Chennai based clubs offered Ashiq to play for their team but he refused due to personal reasons. “I don’t regret my decision as my family comes first,” he said.About the Santosh Trophy and performance of JK team, he said, “The tournament is being played in Chennai were weather won’t be favourable. Moreover, it is coastal area and we come from high altitude area for that reason we will find it very difficult for first couple of days.”“I think we will easily qualify from our pool which include teams like Madhya Pradesh, Pudicherry and Mizoram. Out of three teams, only Mizoram is a strong side that we will find difficult to beat,” he said.

Published in Greater Kashmir on May 22-2009 http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=22_5_2009&ItemID=6&cat=4