Image credit: aniketjadhav11@Instagram

Hyderabad FC’s new signing, Aniket Jadhav has high expectations of himself ahead of the next edition of the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL). The forward, who played 27 games for Jamshedpur FC over last two seasons, joined the Telangana-based team earlier this week.

“I will give my 100% in every training session and every game. I would love to help the team score goals or defend, whatever is needed from me. I hope there are big things to come,” he told Hyderabad FC’s official website.

“I have already played with many players from Hyderabad FC. Mohammed Yasir, Rohit Danu, Akash Mishra and Asish Rai, to name a few. I can’t wait to start working with them and the entire squad, the coaches, and the staff.”

Jadhav is the fifth signing – after Aaren D’Silva, Abdul Rabeeh AK, Bartholomew Ogbeche and Edu Garcia -- for the Manuel Marquez-led team since their fifth-place finish in the 2020-21 Hero ISL. “I am super excited to play under head coach Marquez and learn something special from him. Given his encouragement for young players, I look forward to working with him,” he said.

“Given that many of the good young players in the Hero ISL are playing for HFC, there will be competition amongst us to push each other in becoming the best which is healthy for the squad and I look forward to it.”

The 21-year-old has only two Hero ISL goals to his name so far but he knows very well where he can make a difference for Hyderabad FC, who are eyeing at least a semi-final berth in 2021-22 – by all accounts. “I think my strengths lie in my pace and explosiveness. I can play anywhere in attack, on the wing, or even as a striker,” he said.

Jadhav has indeed come a long way from being a ball boy in his early days in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. “As a young kid from Kolhapur, I used to be a ball boy during football games. I got to watch many matches at Shahu Stadium in Kolhapur. I got my motivation from there and then started playing football. Later on, when I was in Krida Prabodhini, I used to watch a lot of games at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune as well,” he reminisced.

“I am grateful to my family and my Coach Jaydeep Angirwal who were with me and watched me reach this stage. I would also like to thank Mr. Malojiraje Chhatrapati and Mrs. Madhurima Raje Chhatrapati for their support.”

Jadhav has played for India’s youth teams in the past and has featured in the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup as well as the AFC Under-16 Championships. He represented Indian Arrows for two seasons -- and not to mention -- had a three-month training stint with the Blackburn Rovers Academy in England. These experiences have undoubtedly made him the footballer that he is today, full of promise.

“Playing in the U-17 FIFA World Cup was the best experience of my football career and an unforgettable moment of my life. I got the opportunity to play with many good players and the experience was amazing!” he enthused.

“I got the opportunity of a lifetime there to play with the U-23s and the senior players of Blackburn Rovers. This gave me a chance to learn so much from established players, and that has surely helped me a lot.”