Showbiz / How A Young Bengaluru Footballer Is Making History

How A Young Bengaluru Footballer Is Making History

Showbiz Oct 15, 2016

by Nomaan Khan

Persistence and passion pays off as a young footballer becomes the first Indian to be signed into one of Europe’s top 5 football leagues.

Pandita officially signed a one-year contract this month with Club Deportivo Leganes in Spain’s top league, La Liga.

This makes him the first Indian footballer in history to sign for a team in England, France, Spain, Germany, or Italy.

Pandita said to TOI, “It feels great to be the first Indian to go down this path. Right from the moment I decided to take a break from studies, I never gave up on my dream.”

^{Pandita's signing proves football is making big strides in India}?
^{Photo Credit: www.brixcms.org}

The 18-year-old from Bengaluru made his breakthrough in Spanish football when he was spotted at Alcobendas CF, a football club in Madrid.

Pandita will need to perform well; alongside other youth teams of Atletico and Real Madrid.

?“It’s a great feeling, it’s a big moment for me," Pandita told reporters. "My first goal is to get some game-time and score a few goals. If I can progress through the youth team and debut for the first team before the end of the season that will be great.”

Pandita is aiming to prove his worthiness of being on the team, and change the minds of people who believe South Asians footballers can't play in European or English football leagues.

^{Pandita will start his Leganes career with Leganes' U-19 side in the Division de Honor Juvenil}
^{Photo Credit: www.desiblitz.com}

Leganes academy director Jorge Broto Benavente is impressed with the young Indian's ability to score goals, but says it will take a while for Pandita to make it to club's main team.

This historic signing is a much needed breakthrough in the lack of South Asians on English football teams.

Pandita's lifelong dream being realized is breaking barriers, and we could be seeing other South Asians being signed for teams outside of home countries.

^{Main Image Photo Credit: www.scoopnest.com}

Nomaan Khan

Author

After spending some time in a completely different field, Nomaan decided to drop it all and switch to Mohawk College to pursue his longtime interest in the world of Journalism. His experience working in multimedia platforms has helped him develop exceptional skills in thinking on his feet, being ...

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How A Young Bengaluru Footballer Is Making History

by Nomaan Khan

Persistence and passion pays off as a young footballer becomes the first Indian to be signed into one of Europe’s top 5 football leagues.

Nomaan Khan

COMMENTS

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