HYDERABAD: Eighteen-year-old Adarsh Narayanapuram has achieved what many budding footballers can only dream of. The teen became the first from Telangana to secure a European player licence in the junior category.
Though not there yet, the Hyderabadi has joined the small list of Indian players such as Bhaichung Bhutia and Bala Devi who have represented foreign football clubs.
A centre-forward who idolises Lionel Messi, Adarsh is playing for CD Olimpic de Xativa, a Group VI, third division club in Valencia, Spain since Feb 2018. He started with U-18 'B' team an now promoted to the under-18 'A' team. The “Telangana Messi,” as his teammates fondly call him, has scored five goals in eight games before the pandemic struck and he’s been only practising ever since.
A foreign players needs to be 18 to get this licence and Adarsh had to wait for two years to get the licence.
“It is a proud moment and one of the best in my life,” Adarsh told TOI from Valencia on Sunday. Many Indians want to play football at the highest level. Experience is one thing every footballer needs and I get a lot of it playing here.”
Adarsh started playing the game at nine and he thinks he started late. His physical education mentors David and Sudharshan at Oakridge International School gave him a chance to train under Arsenal coach Xaviar as a part of Arsenal Soccer Schools Programme. At the Arsenal camp, he was one of the two players to be adjudged the best among 150 trainees.
Adarsh’s fascination for the beautiful game grew during his trip to the United Kingdom to attend training camps in 2016. He also got selected to German club DFI.
However, the turning point of his career came when he attended a selection camp conducted by Xativa.
“My coach Vijay sir told me to attend this selection. I was one among the seven selected from India by coach and ex-Real Madrid player Oscar Riberio. That was in August 2018 and it took more than six months to arrive in Valencia,” Adarsh said.
“It’s been a fabulous experience here. I got a scholarship and the club takes care of everything. I am fortunate to get such top-class training,” he said.
The club is owned by Sudeva football academy and the owner is Anuj Gupta. Seven other Indians have got a senior licence and Adarsh is also confident of getting it. “This junior licence helps me to play for one year and I am confident of securing the senior licence as well,” he said.
Going forward, Adarsh’s goal is to represent the Hyderabad team in ISL and play for India.