(March 28, 2024) Growing up, Subho Paul’s father toiled in a textile mill while his mother managed the household, leaving the family with few of the basic amenities often taken for granted. At just 13 years old, Subho would finish school only to embark on a journey to the training ground, pedalling on a borrowed bicycle without the luxury of football boots, as his family couldn’t afford them. Introduced to the sport at the tender age of six by his elder brother Raju Paul, who harboured aspirations of a professional football career himself, Subho displayed remarkable talent. Witnessing his younger sibling’s aptitude for the game, Raju, a decade his senior, selflessly relinquished his ambitions, securing a job at the Howrah municipal corporation to facilitate Subho’s budding football career.
Shubho Paul
While India may have missed out on the opportunity to participate in the FIFA qualifiers this time, the future of Indian football looks to be in safe hands. Over time, the country has nurtured exceptional talents, with some even making their mark in prominent international leagues. Among these talents is this 18-year-old footballer, who recently achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Indian to join Bayern Munich’s Under-19 World Squad. Hailing from a humble background in a small town in Bengal, the Sudeva Delhi FC player was overjoyed upon learning of his selection for the German squad.
“I never thought such a day would come. I came to Sudeva to play in the I-League but never thought the experience at Sudeva would bring me to this stage. Especially after seeing the Bayern jersey with my name on the back, I am feeling happier,” the footballer said in a press conference soon after his selection. The Global Indian was selected via a programme overseen by the German and European football powerhouses Bayern, constituting a two-step initiative guided by Bayern legend and World Cup winner Klaus Augenthaler and Christopher Loch – the Bavarian club’s coach for international programmes.
Rising from the ashes
Fortunes took a turn for the better when Kolkata football icon Chima Okorie graced a nearby ground to oversee trials. The aspiring footballer watched eagerly from the sidelines, yearning for an opportunity to showcase his skills before the legend, renowned for his prolific goal-scoring record while representing Kolkata giants East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, and Mohammedan Sporting. Remarkably, his wish came true. Okorie noticed the young lad, approached him, and inquired about his aspirations. What unfolded next was akin to a fairy tale.
Competing barefoot against older boys, Subho consistently found the back of the net, earning the admiration of Okorie, a formidable striker in his own right. Impressed by Subho’s prowess, Chima Okorie not only provided him with his inaugural pair of football boots and kit but also assumed a mentorship role. Under Okorie’s tutelage, avenues began to unfold for the budding footballer, leading to his selection as one of the inaugural recruits for Bengaluru FC’s academy following trials.
The serendipitous encounter with Okorie unlocked numerous opportunities for Subho, some of which were previously beyond his awareness. Following his initial training stint at Bengaluru FC, Subho ventured back to Kolkata and swiftly caught the attention of Sudeva Delhi FC, where he showcased his scoring abilities across different age categories. Since becoming an AIFF-registered player, the young prodigy has netted an impressive 87 goals in 41 matches, underscoring his remarkable goal-scoring prowess, which ultimately led to his selection for Bayern’s World Squad.
Climbing the ladder
Before joining the German team, Subho also represented India at the Under-16 level, playing a pivotal role in India’s qualification for the 2020 AFC Under-16 Championships in Bahrain, which have since been postponed. He demonstrated his skill by scoring three goals in three qualifying matches.
Speaking about his selection at Bayern Munich’s Under-19 World Squad, the footballer said in a press conference, “I was unaware that such a programme was underway, and my details had been shared with Bayern. I went back to my home for a week and the coach called me back to Sudeva for training. I was not told about any involvement from Bayern Munich to not affect my mentality. The coach called up a meeting one day with all the players and that is when I got to know about my selection in the Bayern Munich World Squad.”
The news of his call up to the World Squad has been emotional for his elder brother. During an interaction with the media, Shubho shared that since his family couldn’t afford to support both sons playing football, his elder brother took up a job. Crediting his brother for his success on the field, he said that he only played cricket growing up, but his brother motivated him to think about football seriously and took him to the coaches.
The announcement of his selection for the World Squad has stirred strong emotions in his older brother. In a media interview, Shubho revealed that due to financial constraints within the family, his elder brother made sacrifices by securing employment to support their shared football aspirations. Expressing gratitude towards his brother for his achievements on the field, Shubho disclosed that while he initially focused solely on cricket during his upbringing, his brother inspired him to take football seriously and even facilitated his introduction to coaches.
