K. P. Rahul's biggest fan is his grandmother. However, she had never been to a football stadium to see her grandson play. When Rahul accepted the offer from Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters, the prospect of his near and dear cheering him from the stands played in the back of his mind.
"Apart from footballing reasons, one of the main reason for accepting the offer was that I could be near my family and my grandmother and parents could see me play whenever they want," said the 19-year old.
Rahul became an overnight sensation in Kerala after becoming the first footballer from the state to play in a World Cup tournament when he took to the pitch in the U-17 World Cup in 2017. Kerala Blasters was the first ISL team to approach him after the World Cup but Rahul chose to join Indian Arrows, the AIFF’s developmental squad in the I-League.
Kerala Blasters persisted, but Rahul resisted the temptation. But after two seasons with Indian Arrows, Rahul thought he needed a change.
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"I benefited a lot playing for Indian Arrows and I wouldn’t have got opportunity to play in the first eleven if I had joined any other club. But after two seasons I have become a senior. Since it is a developmental squad, the opportunities will be less this season as the coach would want to try out some new players. Though I had offers from other ISL clubs, I chose Kerala Blasters because I wanted to play in Kerala and for a club which has the largest fan base in India," he said.
Rahul is aware of the expectations from fans and thinks it is something which he will have to endure during his stay with the club.
"Of course there will be a lot of expectations from fans. As a professional player I believe in giving my best on the field. Sometimes even on your bad day you score goals but sometimes nothing will work for you. It is important not to lose focus and be as consistent as possible," he said.
Rahul was busy keeping himself in shape during the off-season. After the Super Cup, Rahul spent a few weeks playing in a local league in Qatar and is back home in Thrissur. The teenager is looking forward to an exciting new chapter in his career which is set to begin in October.
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