MALAPPURAM: Be it for the Kerala state team in the 71st Santosh Trophy national football championship or his college side in TNIE GOAL 2017 all-Kerala inter-collegiate football tournament, 19-year-old Asharudeen P is someone who is always committed to the cause of helping his team win football matches.
Though the SS College, Areacode team he represented at GOAL 2017 lost to Nirmala College, Muvattupzuha 1-0 at Malappuram District Sports Council Stadium here on Thursday, Ashar was a composed figure playing through the middle for his side and testing the opponents with his dribbling skills.
While the three players aged below 21 who are required to play in the starting 11, according to AIFF's new rules, were an Achilles' heel for many sides, the youngsters in the Kerala lineup though were their weapons that they used to slay their opponents ruthlessly in the south zone qualifiers. "It does not matter which team you play for, you always want to do your best for the team to win. So, I am disappointed with the match and the result," said Ashar after the game. "At the college level, GOAL is the best tournament you can play in. So, it is sad we have to go out very early," he said. "But I am looking forward to a couple of weeks' rest before joining up with the Kerala side again to start preparation for the final round," Ashar said.
Asharudeen joined the Kerala state camp as part of the group of U-21 players that coach V P Shaji tried out. But, during the 45-day camp, he managed to impress the coach who started him for the first qualifying game against Puducherry. The youngster impressed and stayed in the playing eleven until an injury forced him off in the second half of their final qualifier. Now a BCom second year student at SS College, Ashar started kicking the ball under coach Mohammed Ali at Vision India's Areacode centre. Football runs in his family as his brother Nishad is also a goalkeeper for the Kerala Police team. Having helped Kerala to progress from the south zone in Santosh Trophy, Ashar is eager to help the state do well in the final rounds too. "Coach wants us to not think about football for the next couple of weeks. So, this will be my last game before I join the state camp again," said Ashar.
Ashar also felt that he can improve on the performances he pulled during the qualifiers. "I have to improve a lot and I have identified the areas where I can do better," said Ashar.