NAGPUR: Whenever
Big Ben Club
take the field, their skipper and custodian
Naeem Ansari
takes the centre stage more often than not. He controls the match with loud shouts, louder screams and loudest cheers from his box. When Big Ben face any attack, Ansari becomes the saviour. He dives, advances and jumps to thwart the oppositions.
It was business as usual for Ansari on Monday. The 31-year-old made five to six brilliant saves after Harsh Narang's goal, to guide Big Ben to their second victory in the NDFA Elite Division League. They shocked Rahul Sankrutyayan Sporting Club 1-0.
Ansari's one-hand save, just after Big Ben took lead, earned him applause from every corner of Police Lines Takli ground. RSSC's
Christopher Peter
had fired a volley targeting the cross bar from 5-6 meters but Ansari jumped 3-4 feet high to push the ball out to ensure the victory.
Ansari, who has been playing the league for more than 13 years, has been doing this since many years. He even took them to Super Six stage single-handedly in the last edition. Owner of the team Atmaram Pande feels Ansari is the soul of his side.
"Naeem is the one man army for us. He recruits players, mentors them and set the team in order all by himself. His swift goalkeeping and peculiar style of shouting at players has earned him many fans over the years," Pande told TOI after the victory.
Ansari has given his life to football. He started at the age of 15 and went on to play for Young Muslim FC, and Nagpur Blues. He even played Mumbai League for two years before joining Big Ben as the desired job offer did not come. It was tough to digest when his future looked bleak.
"I devoted all my years to the game. As I was expecting a job in sports quota, I did not complete graduation. However, even after playing in Nagpur and Mumbai, I didn't get the job. It was frustrating," Ansari, who has been leading Big Ben with most of the Under-21 players, told TOI.
After Mumbai's stint, Ansari came in touch with Pande and they decided to coach young players. "I just know football and nothing else in life. So, I started coaching and completed AIFF 'D' license. I coach young kids in the morning before going to my private job," Ansari, who wishes to continue Big Ben's winning run, added.
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