It has been a dream journey for J&K’s Wadoo

By T.N. Raghu

Male, Maldives

June 10: When Mehrajuddin Wadoo made his debut for India at the 2005 SAFF Cup, it was a dream come true. "It felt awesome. The day I put on India’s jersey was the happiest moment of my life. For someone from Kashmir, it was indeed a special occasion. I was the first player from J & K to be selected for India in more than two decades," Wadoo recalls.

"The situation in Srinagar was not conducive to play football during my younger days. Violence and terrorism were making headlines every day. However, my passion for the game remained undimmed. Incidentally, the 2005 SAFF Cup was held in Karachi," he adds.

The strapping player couldn’t have written a better script for his first international tournament. He scored a screamer in India’s 2-0 win over Bangladesh in the final. "It was like a dream," says Wadoo.

Wadoo says he owes his football career to his father, Mohamed Sultan Wadoo. "The facilities to play football were not good in Srinagar. Coming from a middle-class family, I wondered whether football would be a career option. But my father, who was a state-level footballer, told me to chase my dream. He was always there for me," says the 25-year-old.

After brief stints with HAL, Sporting Club de Goa and Mohun Bagan, he has now settled down with East Bengal. "As everybody knows, the switch from Bagan to East Bengal was difficult. I had to work hard to gain the acceptance of EB fans in the beginning. I’m now a part of the East Bengal family," says Wadoo, who is keen to play for a foreign club.

Wadoo’s face lights up when the conversation switches to the ongoing Santosh Trophy, being held in J&K. Wadoo says the national tournament is a big hit in his home state. "The event is having amazing crowd support. I would have loved to play for J&K in front of my fans. I cannot, however, think about it when I’m with the Indian team. Country comes first for me any day," he adds.

Wadoo is determined to do his bit for the growth of football in his state. "From 1989 to 2004, our people had no time to think about sports amidst non-stop violence. The time is now ripe for football to take a giant stride. Football has the knack of making people forget their bitter past."

"My regular place in the Indian team has motivated many youngsters to take up the game. I feel it is my duty to guide them. I think football can be a boon for talented youngsters from middle-class families in Kashmir because job opportunities are at a premium in other fields."