Delhi boy makes Chelsea under-18 trials

NEW DELHI: When Chelsea was being rebuilt by Jose Mourinho in 2004, Delhi boy Aayushmaan Chaturvedi, then a 9-year-old, developed a strong passion for the London club. But itwas nothing unusual for a youngster like Aayushmaan to become a die-hard fan ofChelsea, which became a rage after they won their second successive title in2005-06. Six years later when Aayushmaan appeared in the club's under-18 trial -in a 40 minute game at Stamford Bridge last month - it was actually a dream cometrue for him. "I have religiously followed Chelsea since I was alittle boy. I used to keep track of each and every player," Aayushman told TOIon Wednesday. His father Abhinav is a former cricketer and alsoknown for his cameo roles in Bollywood films besides appearing in India's firsttele serial Hum Log. Surprisingly, there was no strong footballlinks in the Chaturvedi family barring one of Aayushmaan's uncle who had playedfor Mughals Club in the eighties. Chaturvedi senior wanted his son to follow hisdreams. "I wanted my son to do what he always wanted. He lovesChelsea and I allowed him to chase his dream." In the past, severalprofessional players including current India striker Sunil Chhetri have attendedtrials with English clubs. But the Delhi boy became the youngest Indian playeron record to appear for a trial at Chelsea. "It doesn't matter if hefails to make the grade. It's worth an experience of a lifetime," said hisfather. For Aayushmaan, football became his first and only love whenhe was only nine years old. After learning the nuances at his alma mater (ModernSchool, Barakhamba), he didn't find it difficult to pick the left wing as hisfavourite position as he always loved to "take the ball down the flank."Besides, he isn't too selfish on the field. Instead when he has theball, he simply loves to dribble and assist his strikers. "He possesses goodskills and an intelligent mind. That's what is important in a junior player,"said Anadi Barua, his coach at Ashoka Football Academy. This year, Barua added,Aayushman will make his debut for Ashoka Club in 'A' Division of DelhiLeague."I started watching EPL and La Liga as a kid. I copied themoves in the parks, my bedroom, and in space which allowed me to juggle with theball," added Aayushman, who admires Jeje Lalpekhlua among the upcoming Indianplayers. It was only last year when he represented Indian Public School Conference at 56th National School Games at Andaman & Nicobar Islands that his focus became much more intense. In the same year, he represented his school at the U-19 IPSC event at Tashi Namgyal Academy in Gangtok."Follow your heart and in my case it is football," he says.Good luck, Aayushmaan.