Often hailed as the “Mr. Versatile” of Indian football, Syed Rahim Nabi is a coach’s delight, as he can play in any position in the outfield, and has indeed done so on several occasions in the past. What’s more, the effervescent character is willing to go the extra mile in the team’s interest.“If the coach wants me to play as a goalkeeper, I will gladly do so,” he says with a grin, during an interview with www.indiansuperleague.com conducted at the team hotel after an early morning training session. It is this selfless attitude that has won the star footballer several fans in his native state and all across India. Testament to that is a family that has travelled all the way from Kolkata just to meet him at the team hotel and is waiting patiently for us to conclude the interview.The Mumbai City FC defender is more than happy to open up and share his footballing journey. “I come from a big family of seven brothers. One of them has played for Mohammedan Sporting and is also an extremely talented footballer,” he reveals, when asked about his footballing roots. “I am a product of the Tata Football Academy. From the very beginning, I have had this yearning to play football and I got the unwavering and unflinching support from my family members.”The 2012 AIFF Player of the Year, who has around 70 international caps and has had successful stints at East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, is grateful to the Hero Indian Super League for the latest opening. “It is a dream come true for me. I am now sharing space with players like Manuel Friedrich who has played in the Champions League,” he enthuses. “The best part is that he has no ego issues. He is down to earth and always ready to guide us.”For a man who has played all his professional football in Kolkata, Nabi has quickly made himself at home in the maximum city and has only good things to say about his experience. “There are so many fans from Kolkata who are based here. Mumbai also has developed a strong footballing culture which is heartening to see. The other day, when we arrived here to do our medical tests, all the boys at the hospital became instant fans. They took our numbers and asked us to inform them about the schedule and venue for the games so that they could cheer us on,” he says.Asked if he is feeling the pressure, given that Mumbai City FC will play Atlético de Kolkata away in the inaugural fixture on October 12, Nabi is brutally honest. “Yes!” he admits. “Football is a game that encapsulates pressure and physical conditioning. When I played in Kolkata there was always pressure and expectations. Even now, there will be pressure because of the platform and the level of the event. We’ll be playing games quite frequently. Therefore, there will be pressure to maintain our physical conditioning and fitness.”But the champion footballer is game for the challenge.