The Football Pheno-Menon

• 02 Oct 2014
• Features

It was none other than the Master BlasterSachin Tendulkar who introduced Duleep Menon to the football world. 'He is myboy. I brought him in.' – Said Sachin at the Kerala Blasters jersey launch inKochi. Looking back, it’s all a dream come true for Duleep . Football for this27 year old was always a passion and he began playing at school level. While mostpeople may think that footballers tend to focus more on the game and ignorestudies, Duleep Menon broke all those stereotypes by scoring a 90% in his CBSEScience board exams. His close friend Sarat Prakash says; 'Duleep is not justanother football player focused only on kicking the ball and scoring goals. Hehas deep knowledge about the game. He is well aware of the tactics andstrategies. At school, we used to plan out and strategize the game onblackboards.'

The Entry
Duleep started playing professionallyonly in 2008-2010, with Josco FC and Central Excise Ernakulam teams. In 2011,he left for higher studies in the UK. There Duleep played for semi-professionalEast Manchester United Club based in Manchester. There have been talks aboutDuleep’s entry to the Indian Soccer League as an overnight success. But hisfriends beg to differ and say that Duleep has always been a disciplined playerwith great skill. It was at a practice match between the new Kerala Blastersand Central Excise that David James spotted Duleep. Blasters management soonroped him in without any hesitation. Despite all the sudden attention that heis not used to, Duleep appeared calm and confident when we met him. When askedwhat his expectations are from the inaugural ISL season, he says that he isonly looking forward to playing good games and use his skills to lead KeralaBlasters to victory. The Real Madrid fan has been travelling with the KeralaBlasters all over the country as part of the Indian Super League (ISL).

The Team
Duleep is the third Malayali in theKerala Blasters. Though initially he was in awe, now he is completely at homewith his fellow team mates. Being in the same room with international andnational players is a life lesson in itself. Duleep is really excited abouttraining under David James and Trevor Morgan. According to him they are ‘reallynice guys’ but when it comes to football discipline is the word. Their days arestructured and don’t leave much free time. After breakfast and lunch, aretraining sessions which wind up with an early dinner at 7.30pm. There are nocurfews except on the eve of a match match and Duleep jokes that “you better bein your room before David (James) sees you.” The away matches have been eyeopeners and he is amazed at the innumerable Blasters fans that turned up. Therookie is still reeling it all in. Birthday celebrations are hilarious affairsin the team. There are also photo shoots and videos which are loads of fun. Duleepdoesn’t give that much thought. He is focused on the game and is hoping to getat least half hour on the field for this season.
Duleepgushes about going to Mumbai. It had been one of his dreams to visit the cityand to top all that off, the team was put up at the Palladium with their ownrooms (according to ISL regulations each player must have his own room). Heloved Mumbai he says, it was like being in New York and Kochi at once. From hisroom on top he could see the skyscrapers and glass and looking below, a typicalIndian street with busy roads and small shops. The newbie is taking it all inone step at a time. He has been meeting international players from other teamsas well. Before the season ends he wants to get that elusive picture with Alessandro Del Piero.
 Being in KochiSince it’s the first home game,everybody has a lot of expectations. The team has been in the city training atthe Indoor Stadium and a school ground. They were also present at the GrassRoots football camp held for youngsters. Duleep is deeply moved by the supportthey have been getting. His father had come to watch a Chennai match.  His entire family and friends are going to bethere for the Kochi game, though they know that he might be on the benches. Hisfriends from the O Jogo Bonito league,Kochi have a lot of questions for him.Which boots are you going to wear? Are you going to keep that haircut, becauseit might become a fad! They wonder if people will think that he looks likeSantiago Munez as they do. They also have advice for him. Learn a lot. Don’t doanything drastic to cause injury till the season gets over. Don’t party toohard. Don’t let all this get into your head. Don’t be disappointed if you areon the benches. For Duleep Menon this is an experience of a lietime. The ISL isa great platform to bring out the talent in this country which is one of themain aims of the Kerala Blasters team. This Kochi pheno-Menon is testament tothat fact. All the best Duleep Menon!