Alyque Virjee from Mumbai is the perfect example of just such a champion. 24 year old Alyque represented India in the Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF) Intercontinental Cup in Lloret de Mar, Barcelona, Spain. As part of the Indian Futsal team, Alyque has played against several countries such as Spain, France, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Australia in May 2017.
Futsal—an indoor version of football— is played on a hard court, smaller than a football pitch, with 5 players on each side and a smaller ball. This modified football calls for greater creativity, improvisation, and technique, needed to control a smaller ball, and manoeuvre in a tighter space. The sport’s popularity is growing rapidly in India.
Alyque’s journey to wearing the coveted India Jacket and playing with the best players of the country was not an easy one. He started with the state team trials for Futsal in October 2016. He was elated to make it straight through the selections and got shortlisted to represent Maharashtra at the all India National Tournament, senior category. “The trials were competitive,” he said, “but the good thing was that I knew I was a part of the team the very same evening!”
His first tournament was scheduled in Jaipur two months later. “All of us travelled together and it was exciting considering the fact that it was the first time I was representing my state at a national tournament.”
Alyque knew he wasn't stopping there. He participated in national trials with the best players from 18 states. Two to three players from each state were shortlisted to try out for the Indian National team. These 50 sportsmen, Alyque among them, then went on to Goa for the India selection camp in April 2017.
“It was a very big deal for all of us. I had to take leave from work and prepare myself for this camp which was going to be very competitive with the best players of the country.”
They pushed themselves to their limits and trained harder than ever before throughout the final selection, which was like boot camp. “There were levels of selection, practice and matches through the week, and we had to keep up with the daily difficulties. We also had a physiotherapist there to take care of our injuries”.
From these 50 players, 12 would go on to represent India in Spain in May 2016 in the AMF Intercontinental Futsal Cup 2017. Alyque outdid himself so he could be among them.
“It was a great experience. We had a travelling kit that was given to us and everywhere we went for matches or practice sessions, we used to wear our India Jackets.”
The team played like champs and returned with stories to tell. Alyque was grateful for the opportunity. “The proudest moment for a sportsman is to play for their country, I feel privileged to have represented my country in the sport that I love.”
We hope that athletes around India, inspired by Alyque, will persist in achieving their goals
