Bengaluru FC’s assistant coach Naushad Moosa revealed how the need to have players taking charge across the field resulted in the signings of Danish Farooq and Jayesh Rane.

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Bengaluru FC roped in Farooq and Rane ahead of the upcoming Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season and the duo put up promising displays during the Blues’ AFC Cup 2021 campaign. Eventually, Marco Pezzaiuoli’s side couldn’t make it past the group stage.

However, it was Moosa that played a huge role in getting the two on board with the club.

"He (Moosa) was my coach during the Under-19s (at Mumbai FC), so we are in touch since then,” Jayesh said in a recent interaction with the Hero ISL while speaking on the Let’s Football Live Twitter Space.

“When Bengaluru FC made an offer for me, he (Naushad Moosa) spoke to me first, and I came here as Moosa sir is (here). There is someone who can help me, and who knows me as a player, so that was the main reason I joined."

Meanwhile, Moosa had scouted Farooq for the Blues in 2019, but his stint training with Bengaluru FC was short-lived.

“I remember, two years back when (Albert) Roca was there, I had got him (Farooq) for the reserve squad,” Moosa said. “Somewhere he was homesick, he didn’t sign and left. Since then, I have been tracking him. He was doing really well with Real Kashmir.”

That said, Danish has come to be known as the Kashmiri Ronaldo because of his dribbling skills and goal-scoring capabilities. With Real Kashmir FC, Farooq finished as the joint highest goal-scorer in the 2017-18 I-League second division and also had the most number of assists. Ultimately, his performances helped Real Kashmir secure the I-League 2017-18 second division title and earn a promotion to the I-League. Moosa revealed Farooq was still adjusting to playing for the Blues.

“The way we play is a bit different,” Moosa said. “He was having some problems in the beginning. But after 1-2 games he got used to our method. Danish will agree, the way Real Kashmir plays is a more long ball to the strikers’ end and Danish was being used by the coach a lot where Danish was more on the wing. Now he has been given the responsibility to be in the centre. It takes time to adjust while playing for a club like BFC, the pressure is always there, and we as coaches understand that” added Moosa.

Farooq forms part of an elite group of footballers that hail from Kashmir with Ishfaq Ahmed (assistant coach at Kerala Blasters FC) and Mehrajuddin Wadoo (assistant coach at Hyderabad FC) to have been part of the Hero ISL as players.

"I want more players coming from Kashmir. I want to be the new face (to show) that Kashmiri players can also play in the ISL. So that thing, I've kept in my mind. I want to work hard, play for everyone back in Kashmir (and) giving something to the people there as they can also join any club outside Kashmir.”

Sivasakthi – one to watch out for

Former India player, Raman Vijayan also made a special appearance on the Twitter space, and was asked about another Bengaluru talent, Sivasakthi Narayanan, who he mentored at his academy. Sivasakthi starred for Bengaluru in their Durand Cup 2021 campaign and he also scored a brace against FC Goa in the semi-finals which the Blues lost on penalties.

“I have to thank Moosa to have spotted the boy and giving him space in BFC,” said Vijayan. “It was a challenging moment for us as coaches whether he will go and prove himself and what expectations we had from him. Sivasakthi is a natural goalscorer.”

Moosa also played a big part in helping Bengaluru sign Sivasakthi.

“Two years back, Sivasakthi played against us and I was shocked to see his talent,” Moosa said. “We got to play two games against him and he was really impressive. That’s when I talked to Raman about him and Kamalesh. He will give his life for Raman Vijay. Players like Sunil (Chhetri) admire him a lot. Sunil asked me ‘kahan se laye ho isko pakad ke?’. I feel, he will be a big name in Indian football,” remarked Moosa.

If Bengaluru FC can continue to harbour talent into the Indian football industry, one suspects there is a bright future ahead.

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Bengaluru FC 2021-2022Jayesh Rane