Sahal Abdul Samad, is arguably one of the most creative midfielders in Indian Football, and has dazzled into the hearts of the fans with his silky skills and creative spark.

The midfielder made his Indian Super League (ISL) debut in the 2017-18 season with Kerala Blasters FC and won the Emerging Player awardin the very following season. He has become a star for Kerala Blasters FC and is now a vital player for Mohun Bagan Super Giant, a team he currently represents.

Sahal recorded his career-best season numbers under the tutelage of Ivan Vukomanovic at Kerala Blasters FC as he racked up six goals and an assist and was instrumental in their run to the ISL Cup final in 2021-22. Recalling the Serbian’s impact, he told the CUE, “After Ivan (Vukomanović) came in as head coach, all the young players gained confidence. He helped us overcome fear.”

“He gave me confidence, too, and that’s probably why I was able to score a few goals that season. The team was well prepared. Luna was in great form. With Alvaro (Vazquez) and (Jorge Pereyra) Díaz, the team was fantastic. Under that coach, I had one of my best seasons,” he added.

After spending six years at KBFC, Sahal switched to Mohun Bagan Super Giant ahead of the 2023-24 season, a decision that he felt was really tough for him at the time.

“I had offers from two clubs, and I chose the one that seemed best – Mohun Bagan Super Giant. There was sadness and anxiety. I kept wondering how to tell people and how they’d react. But once I reached and saw everything for myself, I was at peace,” he said.

Sahal won the Durand Cup and the League Shield in his debut season with the Mariners. However, the playmaker was troubled by an injury all throughout the 2024-25 season, as he only clocked 816 minutes on the field in MBSG’s double-winning campaign.

“When a team like MBSG says they want you, it’s bigger than you imagined. The real joy comes when you feel that you can go there and contribute. In my first season, we won the Durand Cup. I played well there, though I had to take breaks due to injury. Injuries have taught me patience,” Sahal said.

National Team goals

The midfielder made his India national team debut against Curacao in 2019 under Igor Stimac and recalled Sunil Chhetri’s motivational words ahead of the game.

“The first time I went to the national team camp, I had a conversation with Chhetri bhai. He told me, ‘Just perform here the way you do for your club – that’s enough. Everything else will fall into place.’” he said.

“I can never forget that goal I scored in the SAFF Championship. The disappointment of not getting enough minutes in that tournament disappeared with that one goal,” Sahal added.

Sahal has scored three goals and provided two assists in his 39 appearances for the Blue Tigers but remains hungry for more.

"My goal is to follow in the footsteps of someone like Sunil Chhetri — he’s still playing at 40. I want to perform like that and keep getting better. That’s my mentality,” Sahal concluded.