CHENNAI: It has become a familiar sight for Chennaiyin fans this year. The opposition attacker seeks to exploit the flanks, only to encounter the burly Mehrajuddin Wadoo in his path. A crunching tackle later, the man with the most impressive beard in Indian football bombs forward threatening to run over anything in his path.
It has been a rather long journey for Wadoo — from the scenic settings of Srinagar to the dust and heat of Chennai — one that has taken him through most footballing cities of the country. And it is a journey the 31-year-old is thankful he took. “When I started playing, I had no idea where I was going to end up,” he says. “I played because I wanted to. My father was also a footballer and I was forced to play at home as well. I had heard of clubs like East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and wanted to play for them. I also wanted to play for the national team, so I worked hard. It was a difficult dream, and I took a big risk, leaving Kashmir to play football, but I think I have been successful.”
A difficult dream it was, and what is most heartening for Wadoo is that young footballers are finally venturing out on the path that he cleared over a decade ago. The exploits of LoneStar Kashmir in the Second Division I-League is indication that there is more to come from the region. “There is a lot of potential in Kashmir. Recently (in I-League Division 2), LoneStar beat Dempo 3-0, and that without any foreigner in their line-up. Dempo is still a big name in Indian football and LoneStar players were inexperienced. Still they managed a big win. This shows that the talent and potential is there in Kashmir. The only thing that is missing is the infrastructure,” Wadoo says.
Meanwhile, Wadoo is more than happy with the way his Chennaiyin adventure is shaping up. “Usually it’s difficult for a footballer to go to a new club. But for me at Chennaiyin, it was different. I already knew a lot of the Indian players, and in no time, I was close to the international players as well. We had a nice pre-season to Perugia and all the foreigners came down,” Wadoo says, while adding his game has moved up a notch or two since he started playing in the ISL.
The biggest moment of his career came when he scored the winner in the 2005 SAFF Cup summit clash in Pakistan, his first international goal. Now, with another SAFF Cup looming, Wadoo feels he still can do a job for the national team.
“When I played in SAFF Cup, it was 2005. Now it’s 2015. I’m playing ISL and I’m playing I-League. If tomorrow, I am called up to the national squad, I will give my 100 percent there as well.”