CHENNAI: A football field is always a theatre of dreams and fluctuating fortunes. In the last one week, Mahindra United’s versatile striker Mohammad Rafi’s fortune oscillated between both the extremes - from uncertainty to become the highest paid Indian footballer ever. When Mahindra decided to withdraw its football outfit from competitive football, his career was on the brink, which was taken to another level by Churchill Brothers as he is all set to sign a deal for an undisclosed amount with the Goan side that is believed to break all the transfer records for an Indian.
Rafi, along with his Mahindra United teammate Steven Dias, has signed a 16-month contract with Churchill in a week’s time and the paper works are in the pipeline. The players were in Goa the other day for an I-League encounter with Salgaocar SC when the deal was struck. “It’s a happy moment for me. It’s a great team and it would be great to play for them as well. At the same time, it is sad that Mahindra management decided to pullout from the league. We had great time in Mahindra where I spend my five years,” Rafi told Express.
The deal is for 16 months and refused to disclose the amount, which he says, is an “amazing offer.” “An official announcement will follow soon as there are some paper works left before I could reveal anything,” he added.
When asked about the future of other Mahindra United players, he said: “There are talks going on between the players and clubs like Mohan Bagan, Churchill, Salgaocar, Chirag, Sporting. I hope a decision will be made soon.” Rumours have it that Churchill is also targeting NP Pradeep, the other Kerala player in the team, for which a deal is yet to be finalised.
The transfer amount will make Rafi the highest paid Indian player, according to sources.
Rafi’s outstanding form this season and his goal-scoring ability made him the most valuable Indian in the domestic circuit. The striker from Kerala has scored a total of 15 goals so far this season for Mahindra United, which makes him the top-scorer among Indians in the ILeague.
Currently the highest paid player in the Indian League is Churchill’s Nigerian recruit Odafe Okolie who is bagging Rs 1.5 crore a year.