Ishan Debnath: communication is important.Most young and aspiring footballers generally want to emulate the Peles, Maradonas, Ronaldos and Messis of the world. Hardly anybody wants to be another Lev Yashin or Dino Zoff, world famous though these celebrated goalkeepers may have been. Well, not quite! Mumbai City FC’s Ishan Debnath is among the exceptions to the rule. He fitted into the role without much ado to become one of the leading young goalkeepers in the country. After graduating from the prestigious Tata Football Academy in 2010, the 23-year-old custodian spent a season with Mumbai FC and then joined Kolkata’s United SC in 2012.“Yes, I started my career as a goalkeeper. My friends told me that you have good height, so you should play as a goalkeeper. I didn’t know much about professional football then. I used to just tag along with my friends and play as a goalkeeper,” Debnath told indiansuperleague.com when asked whether goalkeeping was always his preferred position.His parents initially wanted him to become an engineer but they relented when he was adamant about pursuing a career in football, and proffered all their support.So what exactly does he like about manning the last line of defence? “For me, goalkeeping is a habit more than a liking. I started keeping at a very young age and it became a habit which eventually transformed into a professional career at the highest level,” he explained.Debnath dispels the common misconception that goalkeeping is only about shot stopping and making saves. “Coordinating with the defence is the most important role of a goalkeeper. It doesn’t take a great goalkeeper to make saves, any goalkeeper with basic skills can do it. It’s the communication (with the defence) that’s most important,” he stressed. Debnath has generally been able to maintain a fine line of communication with his teammates in his three years of professional football. However, the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. During an I-League match between United SC and Mohun Bagan in December 2013, Debnath clattered into his own teammate Deepak Mandal due to a momentary lapse of communication and coordination. In the freak mishap he fractured his left leg and was ruled out for the season.Debnath underwent surgery and then spent a few months in bed before his rehabilitation began. It was only with steely resolve and a never-say-die attitude that he slowly worked his way back into shape. His childhood idol Subrata Paul provided all the motivation and the encouragement he needed to find his feet again. Now fully recovered and raring to go, Debnath signed up with the Hero Indian Super League and in a strange twist of fate, he has been reunited with former teammates Paul and Mandal in Mumbai City FC. The India No 1 goalkeeper will be an ideal mentor in the high-profile tournament.So what are his expectations from the ISL? “The ISL will improve our level because of the foreign players coming in. No one knows what will happen in the future but just because of the professional way in which this league is being handled, it will only do good for Indian football,” he said.