There is a sense of certainty and clarity in Holicharan Narzary’s movements on the pitch, which were missing in his life till he discovered football.
The 24-year-old winger found space on the left flank for thrilling runs in both matches India won in the Intercontinental Cup at the Mumbai Football Arena. Ten years ago at 14 and realizing the necessity to support his mother, he shifted from job to job in Assam’s Kokrajhar district trying to find a direction and become useful to the family. “With no father around to look up to for guidance, I did whatever work was available in the village,” said the international.
“I worked in the rice fields, plucked leaves in tea gardens, tried to help in building roads and was once also a bus conductor. The money was small, Rs 1500 a month, but mattered a lot at home.”
Fans at the MFA roaring in delight at the winger’s acceleration with the ball and skill in delivering crosses into the goalmouth, as if figuring out teammates’ positions using a football compass in his brain, would be shocked to know football happened by chance.
“I saw children playing along the roadside during a walk with my grandfather and asked him if I too could play this game. He asked me to give it a try. With no money to buy boots, my attempt to play with bare feet was spotted by a Sports Authority of India coach (Pradeep Sir) whose encouragement and generosity with shoes and kit kept me going. “Without football, I cannot even guess where I would be now.”
Kerala Blasters FC signed him on a two-year contract for ISL 2018, following three seasons with North-East United FC and one year under Zico at FC Goa.
Narzary, whose career pit stops were India U-19, India U-23, Pailan Arrows, Dempo SC in Goa and DSK Shivajians in Pune, arrived in Mumbai for the Intercontinental Cup with one clear intention. “I wanted to play in the final before going home.”
The winger was told about captain Sunil Chhetri’s 100th match milestone on reaching here. “We wanted to gift him a victory and that is done. Playing well in the final is our next task,” said the Assam forward, ready for the third match against New Zealand.
The Lionel Messi follower — “he is left-footed” — is clear that a football career as winger is about hard work. “I had no clue where life would take me. When I am on the pitch, I know what to do once I have judged the defender’s position.”
From doing odds jobs to support the family and now flying along the flanks for Team India, football has given this one-time bus conductor a ticket to life.