Kolkata: Minerva Academy owner Ranjit Bajaj asserted that the Indian football team is in a dire need of a center-back and former U-17 World Cupper Anwar Ali can be the solution to the major problem. India have been guilty of conceding late goals for quite some time now and as a result, gave away the match from winning positions.
“Does the national team right now need a center back?” Bajaj questioned during an exclusive interaction with Sportslight Media. “We are desperate. We are getting people out of retirement, Anas (Edathodika) and all are coming out of retirement so that they can fill the position. We have nobody on the bench and we have a ready-made center-back (Anwar Ali) here,” added Bajaj.
Minerva has been a powerhouse of talent. Not only have they had the most number of footballers for the Indian national team, but their proudest moment also came when six academy graduates went on to play at the U-17 World Cup in India in 2017 including Anwar Ali.
While Anwar was said to have had the best stint of them all, another Minervan Jeakson Singh scored India’s only goal at the mega showpiece, an 82nd-minute header against Colombia, and got his name carved in history. Bajaj was in all praises for the likes of Jeakson, Nongdamba Naorem and Dheeraj Singh, his stand-out warrior was Anwar.
“It’s definitely Anwar. India was not a strong team compared to the other teams at the U-17 World Cup and to shine as the centre-back against such tough teams where your team is being beaten 3-0, 4-0 margins, you are standing out.
“The two boys who really stood out for me were Dheeraj and Anwar Ali. Jeakson is there too because he scored the only goal for India, so his name will always be etched in history. But we also saw great glimpses from Nongdamba Naorem.
Later the same year, he scored a wonderful goal against Shillong Lajong for (Indian) Arrows when he went past six players, seventh being the goalkeeper. So these boys had great exposure,” said Bajaj, whose love for the game is irreplaceable.
However, Anwar’s upward glory was cut short when he was diagnosed with Athlete’s Heart (A constellation of structural and functional changes that occur in the heart of people who train for more than an hour most days), which eventually led All India Football Federation (AIFF) to bar him.
It was around the same time when Anwar was set for a transfer at Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League. After Mumbai City FC terminated his contract, Anwar joined Kolkata giants Mohammedan Sporting but was stopped from taking the field considering his health, forcing the individual to take the matter to court.
Anwar Ali signs for Mumbai City FC from Minerva Punjab #IndianFootball
Read: https://t.co/NeBnCSLMpS pic.twitter.com/B2mQ8t7Wii
— Sportskeeda India (@Sportskeeda) June 5, 2018
At a time, when Anwar was being pushed away from the love of his life, the youngster got a boost after the chairman of England Football Association’s cardiology consensus panel and the lead cardiologist for the London Olympics said ‘Anwar could continue to play professionally, as long as he was made aware of the risks and was under regular surveillance by an expert team’.
Anwar returned back when AIFF approved his return to professional football with Delhi FC, provided the 21-year-old can furnish an affidavit taking full responsibility for his own health, as well as details on the medical precautions that he and his prospective club will take.
“He is now coming back and I guarantee you, you cannot stop talent. If talent shows itself on the field how long can you keep it down?” Bajaj questioned. “I mean it doesn’t matter if (Sachin) Tendulkar had not been picked at 16 or (Lionel) Messi would have had not been picked at 12.
“Messi would have been picked at 16 and Tendulkar would have been picked at 20, because they are that good and nothing could keep them down. In the same way when everyone gets to see how good this boy is you cannot keep him down.
“He will play for the Indian National team for a very long time and I have not seen a better Indian center-back for a very long time. He is a class above,” added Bajaj, who owns the majority of stakes in Delhi FC. Delhi FC was ousted in the Durand Cup quarterfinals.
Bajaj was seen extensively venturing to draw the attention of the AIFF towards Anwar’s resurgence. Asked if it’s time for the young defender a national call-up, a very high-spirited Bajaj answered in all positives.
“Definitely, for a lot of reasons. Firstly, he was already in the national squad reckoning when he went down. At that time he was 19 and had already been called up to the national camp. If he was good enough to be at the national camp at 19 then he’s definitely good enough to be at the national camp at 21,” Bajaj continued.
“On top of that has he proved his fitness? In the last year, Anwar Ali is the only professional footballer probably in the whole country who has played over 50 matches across three different leagues to show the world that he is totally fit.
“In the Delhi League, Anwar Ali is the highest scorer being a centre-back but you saw his performance in Durand Cup and he played games against three ISL teams and everybody saw what he is capable of. I think not only does he deserve a U-23 call-up, but to be the captain of the U-23 team and to be in the senior national team as well.
•TOP SCORERS• 🔝
After the group stage we have quite a competition for the highest goal scorers.💯
Anwar Ali – Delhi FC – 5 Goals
Akshay Hurria – Ahbab FC – 5 Goals
Vivek Kumar – Indian Air Force – 4 Goals
Uttam Rai- Garhwal FC – 4 Goals
Ansumana Kromah- Garhwal FC – 4 Goals pic.twitter.com/wOI2Se2Z1A— Football Delhi (@FootballDelhi) July 28, 2021
“He is as good as ChinglenSana if not better and he is the perfect partner for Sandesh Jhingan because he’s the only ball-playing center-back India have. We don’t have ball playing center-backs who can give through balls for 40 yards, which this guy can,” stated Bajaj.
Anwar had been one of the best men for Delhi FC coming back from his setback and was in fact named the captain of the team in the I-League qualifiers. Speaking about his decision to make the super talented Anwar the captain, Bajaj had the most inspiring answer one could think of.
“Definitely for his talent and his undying spirit, that he did not give up. See there is no better captain to have than somebody who has been told that he cannot play football anywhere and never play football in your life again.”
“He didn’t give up, kept at that fitness level, with the same motivation that he used to have when he was a kid because whatever he had achieved till now he had to achieve it all over again and prove to the world all over again the same thing. So he is the best captain I could have,” added Bajaj.
India’s defensive woes were exposed once again as they conceded a late goal against 10-man Bangladesh in their maiden SAFF Championships 2021 encounter to eventually share points. On the other hand, Anwar Ali has been a fighter both on and off the field and made his performances do the talking.
Anwar 35-yard free-kick in the 68th minute against Argentina U-20 in the 2018 COTIF Cup in Spain was prime evidence of his talent. While the selection isn’t in the hands of Anwar, the most he can do is ‘hope’ and continue to fight till his last breath. Hard work never fails.
