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For Loukik Jadhav, who has played national-level junior tournaments, representing Maharashtra seniors comes as a big honour. It has always been his dream. The Pune-based I-league footballer has just been selected to represent the state in the 64th Santosh Trophy tournament, to be played in Kolkata this week.
Jadhav has been playing football for more than five years now and has captained the state team at the Under-16 National Championship, following which he enrolled in the Mohun Bagan Football Academy in 2008. The stint at the Kolkata Club gave a fillip to his game, and he soon entered the I-league with Air India before joining the now-disbanded Mahindra United last season.
The city youngster, who turned 21 last month, was selected for the team after a gruelling ten-day selection trial featuring over 70 players from the state. The aspirants were put through rigorous fitness and endurance tests in practice sessions that went on almost three hours at a stretch.
"I definitely had to push myself to perform better during the trial, and there were several established I-League players whom I was competing against, but I'm glad the hard work paid off," said Jadhav.
In fact, Jadhav had also been called up for the training camp last year, right after playing the Under-21 National Championship in Punjab. He was not selected for the team, but explains the experience showed him what he had to expect this year. "I was disappointed when I missed out on the selection last year, and resolved to make it to the senior side this year," he stated. The right-back left for Kolkata on Sunday, and is upbeat about his chances.
"Representing the state is very different from playing professionally for a club. There is a little bit of added pressure, but wearing the Maharashtra colours inspire me to raise my game," he smiles.
Jadhav added that consistency is the key, and is confident he will be able to produce his best game whenever called upon to help his team to victory.
Along with his blossoming football career, Jadhav is also pursuing a BA degree from Fergusson's College, and is in his final year. After his club went bust this year, he is looking at other I-league teams. "I have got a couple of offers from a few Goa clubs, and will make a decision by the time the season begins," he said.
3 from Pune make the cutThree Pune players have been selected to represent Maharashtra at the 64th National Championship for Santosh Trophy 2009-10 to be held from July 15 to August 8 at Kolkata.
Othallo Tabia and Koraliyadan Anees from I-league side Pune Football Club and Prashant Pardeshi of Deccan XI Football Club have made it to the 20-member squad that will represent the state. The tournament features 32 teams, and Maharashtra have been placed in Cluster 2 along with Chandigarh, Tripura & Andhra Pradesh.
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