Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 21
For someone who has been obsessed with football since childhood, 17-year-old Rahul Pariyar from Nagaland considered it a dream come true when he got selected to play for the Shivanand Haryana Football Club (SHFC).
Rahul was among the two boys from Nagaland who were selected during the trials held in Tenyiphe, Dimapur earlier in August 2021.
Anish Kumar Singh was the other player who made it through the selection trials held by the Haryana-based football club.
Later on, the Club signed Rahul and Anish, both students of Government Higher Secondary School, Singrijan and permanent residents of Nagaland.
Born and brought up in Nagaland, Rahul Pariyar started playing football at the age of 6. “I loved football as a child and started playing the sport at the age of 6. I used to play with seniors, boys older than me” Rahul shared in an interview with The Morung Express. “I feel so blessed and I’m thankful to God,” he said on being selected by the SHFC.
For 17-year-old Anish who has also been playing football since the age of 7, getting selected in the trials was one of the happiest moments in his life. “I am very happy and I should say I am one of the luckiest players to play in this club,” Anish shared.
When SHFC came calling, Rahul was not aware of the selection trials. “My friend from Diezephe sent me the fixture of the HFC selection. That was how I got to know about the trials and decided to give it a try,” said Rahul.
Following their selection, they joined the SHFC in September and have already played some friendly matches. Rahul, who plays as a full-back and Anish (Goalkeeper) were part of the team that played in and won the 1st Monsoon Cup earlier this month in Bihar.
The boys are at the SHFC Residential Football Academy at present and as they await the start of the Bihar League in November.
Terming their experience in the academy so far as a ‘good and enriching’ one, Rahul and Anish said that they plan to learn and gain the most out of it.
While Rahul said he wants to join the Indian Army someday, Anish wants to pursue football as a career. “I want to be a professional player that someone would be inspired by seeing me,” Anish said.
Meanwhile, he also advised his peers to not take any opportunity lightly, “because opportunity comes only once to achieve our goals so we should give our best.”
Both the players conveyed gratitude to their family and friends for their support and prayers.
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