There is more good news. A fourth boy from Delhi, Mukesh Nathani, has also been asked to join the camp. He was part of the Delhi U-14 and U-16 set up, but played for Jharkhand in U-19 tournament.

Ankit Sharma (forward), Raghav Khurana (forward), Birender Singh (goalkeeper) were part of the Delhi U-19 team who were unlucky not to have reached the BC Roy final, after they were beaten 2-1 by Manipur.

Ankit’s selection was only a formality, as he was the tournament’s highest scorer with six goals. Curiously, he was also the side’s reserve goalkeeper after Birender Singh, having donned the role for five years now. And it was only last year that he was given a choice to play in the striker’s role.

“I started as my school team’s goalie. Even when I joined the DDA Football Academy the role stuck to me. We didn’t have a choice as they had no goalkeepers then,” Ankit said of his formative years. This would be a second camp call-up for Ankit. “I wasn’t selected for the team the last time, but this time I am ready to wear India colours.”

U-19 coach Ranjit Thapa swears by his star-striker’s all-round skills. “He is a very good striker, and to add to that, an excellent ‘keeper for the side. His inclusion in the side gave us the flexibility to pick an additional player,” Thapa said. “Being a ‘keeper gives him the advantage of knowing to beat the goalie in one-to-one situations,” he added.

Ankit’s strike partner Raghav Khurana too excelled for the side, scoring three goals in the tournament. “Both are part of the DDA Academy and so they combined well upfront. He (Raghav) takes his opportunities well and he is a disciplined lad,” Thapa said.

But Raghav is a little more critical of his performance. “I am happy about the call-up but I should have scored many more goals than I did. But having said that, the call-up means that I have done something right,” the 17-year-old said of his performances so far.

Lone ranger
Nathani, who has just completed his one-year stint with the Tata Football Academy, had been tipped a little early. “I was told by my coaches that I would get a call-up before the list was made public,” he said. “But I have to work hard to make it to the squad, because as of now I am only a probable with several others,” he added.

Indeed this call-up doesn’t necessarily mean a certainty to make the Indian U-19 squad. But this doesn’t deter these boys from confessing their love for the game.

“I will be happy to get selected for the team, but if I don’t, then I’ll move on. I have already decided to make a career in this sport,” Raghav said, adding: “I don’t have a back if i fail.”

Garhwal, Shahdara win
Garhwal Heroes Football Club and Shahdara FC posted won their respective DSA senior division matches here on Wednesday. Garhwal beat newly-promoted Royal Rangers 1-0 to boost their chances of making it to the super league. Striker WP Ajeet’s 77th minute strike settled the tie.