Just seven matches old, midfielder Sahal Abdul Samad has already brought some fresh air into the Indian football team with his dribbling, feints and turns.
Not surprisingly, the youngster wants to mould himself like Argentine maestro Lionel Messi.
The 22-year-old from Kerala made an immediate impact in his debut match against Curacao in the King’s Cup in June and within four months, he has become the midfield pivot of the Indian team.
“I love dribbling, gunning for a sprint and I love to do that wherever I play. I love to put through balls, penetrate the defence, attack with the ball. I’m a fan of Lionel Messi, I watch him a lot and try to learn as much as possible,” Sahal said. “That’s my way of playing.”
Sahal is one of the youngsters blooded into the national team by new head coach Igor Stimac. He showed his talent while turning out for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters where he has been playing for the last two years. He did not, however, make it to India’s final squad for the Asian Cup in January.
Naturally, he is loving Stimac’s possession-based football, building from the back with neat passes and smooth transition to attacking.
“In modern football, it’s all about keeping the ball and making the opponent run and get them tired. I, personally, and the whole team like the brand of football which we are playing,” said the current Emerging Player of the Year for both the AIFF and the ISL.
“Supporters also continue to cheer for us — everyone has been enjoying our brand of football, which is a positive sign for us.”
Sahal said India can surprise Oman in its own den and hope for a berth in the next round of the World Cup Qualifiers.
