Indian football is replete with rags to riches stories that could provide potential script material for several Bollywood blockbusters. IM Vijayan once sold soda and peanuts at the Thrissur stadium during his childhood days before transforming into a phenomenon. Delhi Dynamos FC defender Naoba Singh too has travelled a similar path, starting off as a humble ballboy in Manipur and becoming one of India’s most highly rated right-backs. In a chat with indiansuperleague.com, the former Churchill Brothers and current East Bengal player recalls his ballboy days and emphasises the importance of a defender having an attacking bent of mind.“I used to be a ballboy in local matches back in my childhood days. But rather than only fulfilling my duties as a ballboy, I used to observe what was happening on the field. I kept looking at the players while dreaming of playing football at the highest level. My love for football grew so exponentially that I started sneaking out of school to play in the local ground nearby. My brothers were good footballers too and used to be my accomplices in sneaking out of class. My mother used to get very angry when she would find out about our activities, but today, when she watches me on television she feels so proud,” he recalled."Kids in Manipur have many players to look up to today"Naoba SinghManipur has become a breeding ground for quality footballers and enjoys a considerable presence in the Hero Indian Super League. So what makes the state with a population of only 2.7 million a giant in Indian football? “Manipur is crazy about football and because there are so many Manipuri players playing in the I-League and the national team, young kids never lack motivation to take up football as a profession. As a child I used to watch a Manipuri player called Soso (Somatai Shaiza) who played for several top clubs (Churchill Brothers, East Bengal, Mohun Bagan, Mahindras). Similarly, kids in Manipur have many players to look up to today,” explained the former Tata Football Academy graduate. Being an attack-minded right-back, Naoba idolises Dani Alves, who is undoubtedly one of the best in the business, and believes that in modern football, defenders must develop attacking instincts in order to have a decisive influence on the game. However, the young right-back believes that the urge to attack must be balanced with the understanding of defensive duties. “For a defender, it’s a good thing to help in attack but not at the cost of leaving the defence vulnerable,” emphasized Naoba. It was exactly this kind of a balance that allowed him to help Churchill Brothers win the I-League in 2009 and Mohun Bagan the Federation Cup in 2010 and 2012.The 26-year-old player thinks the ISL will have a positive impact on several aspects of Indian football, including the turf in the stadiums. “The ISL is a great opportunity for Indian players to learn a lot from the International players. Most importantly, the ISL will directly and positively affect the I-League. There will be a host of new talent emerging from the ISL who will play for the I-League clubs and thus increase the overall quality of Indian football,” he said.
