Sanjiban Ghosh and the 24 hours that changed his life

YOU CAN SEE A STRIKER coming from miles away, they say. But a good keeper sneaks up on you, in silence, and catches you off guard. That was the case with 24 year old Kolkata boy Sanjiban Ghosh. A couple of months ago he went unsold in the ISL Domestic Draft, discarded with dozens of other talented players deemed unworthy of the franchises' attention. He went around doing trials here and there in hope of an opportunity to play. But it didn't seem coming at first. 

The Southern Samity junior team player, who has been with I-League club Mumbai FC since 2011, was given the chance to play in the ISL at the very last moment. He had undergone trials with the Delhi Dynamos a week ago, and although he wasn't offered a contract, player-manager Roberto Carlos did appreciate his skills. That's why when an unexpected injury crisis hit the Lions he quickly gave Sanjiban a call.

Subhashish Roy Chowdhury, who played for Atletico de Kolkata last season, is yet to fully recover from a knee injury that has plagued him for the last few months. And his deputy Ravi Kumar, who was slated to start for the Dynamos in the all-important season opener away against FC Goa, also picked up a knock during training. All this happened with little more than a day left for the game.

Sanjiban was immediately flown in and signed, along with fellow Mumbai FC keeper Ishan Debnath. He arrived in Goa on the morning of the match, and by evening, he was walking out onto the pitch in Delhi Dynamos colours. It was a fairytale twist in the young player's career, all taking place within 24 hours.

And he had a memorable ISL debut too. Although a shaky Dynamos defence unable to hold its own in front of a robust FC Goa attack meant Sanjiban had to concede two goals, but that did not hide the number of excellent saves he pulled off. He was stout in front of the goal, and wasn't shy to come out of the line when defenders let a player pass. Without him the margin of defeat could well have been 5-0 for the Dynamos.

Our Lion Sanjiban Ghosh wins the ISL Emerging Player of the Match award for his miraculous saves. #RoarWithTheLions pic.twitter.com/KglGU805Em

— Delhi Dynamos FC (@DelhiDynamos) October 4, 2015

As the franchise led by Roberto Carlos tries to deal with and recover from the loss they have experienced, they will take heart in the only positive this season opener has thrown at them: they have a new highly dependable custodian in Sanjiban Ghosh.

The player himself will meanwhile be bracing for the sudden transformation his life has undergone in the last 24 hours. He has been relatively unknown in the I-League circuit and now for the first time he is under the spotlight, with fans and media alike highly impressed with the sudden rise of this unlikely hero. The next two months, for Sanjiban, will be crucial. A good outing in the ISL can pivot a player's career to the next level. A good few games now and by the time I-League comes calling in January, Sanjiban can be a man in demand.

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