ISL 2017-18: From the academy to the first team -- Pune City's Sahil Panwar shares his story

FOR EVERY aspirational footballer getting into an academy is the first step to fulfilling a bigger dream. Sahil Panwar is no different. The defender who made his debut for FC Pune City on January 13 2018 against Chennaiyin FC is living the dream. The 18-year is a product of FC Pune City academy, one that was good enough to make the cut for the main team.

“When we were on the team bus to the stadium for the game against Chennaiyin FC, coach told me that I am ready to make my debut,” recalls Sahil of the moment of his life. “It was a big, big deal for me,” added Sahil. At 18, the Dehradun lad became the youngest to make debut for FC Pune City.

But finding his feet in the big boys league was not a cakewalk for Sahil.

“Initially for a week I couldn’t match the level, but all my teammates rallied around me and got me to speed. And then coach also told me that you belong here, just maintain your shape and form. That was enough boost for me to pull up my socks,” said Sahil about his transition from Academy to main team.

Before donning the Purple and Orange of the main team, Sahil represented the U18 team and got the team management stand up and notice his presence. Though the job of a defender isn’t as glamorous, the young lad didn’t mind going through the grind.

“Our job is to keep the team safe, I don’t miss scoring goals,” said Sahil of his role in the team.

Not surprisingly, he has very high regards for senior team head coach Ranko Popovic who picked him for the senior side.

“He is known to back young talent. Be it Ashique (Kuruniyan), Vishal (Kaith), Momo (Rohit Kumar) or myself, he has given us a long rope and told us to not do anything to impress but stick to our jobs and maintain good form,” said Sahil.

“The senior pros made him feel comfortable too. “All players were happy to see me. Most of them told me to not change the way I play and maintain my form and shape,” said Sahil of his teammates

Hailing from the capital city of Uttarakhand, Dehradun, football comes in family for the Panwars. Father Deepak Panwar played for the state side in his heydays. Sister played for India U-16 & U-19 team and is currently playing for FC Pune City women’s team too. But football wasn’t forced on them.

“We used to go with our father when he would play and that’s how developed interest, but our father never forced us to play the sport,” recalled Sahil.

The journey from watching his father play to playing himself is unreal for Sahil though.

“Never thought I would play football one day,” said Sahil.

But he doesn’t mind. He is living his dream and he doesn’t want to come out of it.

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