Baljit Sahni: Former ISL winner now a cashier at Walmart
(Courtesy : ISL Media)
The former East Bengal striker moved to Canada after being left without a club since 2017.
Baljit Sahni, ex-India International and Indian Super League-winner with ATK, has decided to call time on his footballing career citing financial hardship. The winger, who last plied his trade for the now defunct FC Pune City, moved to Canada and has been serving as a cashier at a Walmart store in Edmonton.
In a chat with Mumbai Mirror, he narrated the story of his struggle saying, “In 2019, I left for Canada. I was not getting paid enough. I had to earn my bread and butter and I also have a family to take care of. I retired from football because after that there is a life too and that is hard, but you have to accept that life and take it on the chin.”
The Hoshiyapur-born forward is the first Indian to score a hat-trick in the I-League. He did so in the 2009-10 season against Shillong Lajong while playing for JCT.
However, a month later, he met with a horrific bike accident in Goa and it required 25 stitches which kept him away for a good few weeks. However, the injury was a blessing in disguise for him, he explained. “I don’t think the injury changed my future forever. After that injury, I was more serious about my profession.”
Looking at his exploits with JCT, Kolkata giants East Bengal roped him in and Sahni’s romance with Kolkata started, as he had a glorious career with both - the Red and Gold and ATK. He went on to win the Calcutta Football League (CFL), IFA Shield and Federation Cup with the former in his early days. He formed a deadly partnership with Tolgay Ozbey and Robin Singh under Trevor Morgan, but they missed out on a title by a whisker. Later on, he made a switch to ATK in the year 2014 and won the league in its inaugural season.
ALSO READ: Five player-coach feuds in contemporary Indian football
He recollected the memories from his time in Kolkata and mentioned, “Kolkata is my second home after Punjab. I spent seven years of my life there.”
It was the year 2017, where everything started to go downhill as he changed three clubs in four years. But, destiny had other ideas, as disagreements with FC Pune City on contract terms left him without a club. He then started looking at other professions to earn money.
It was then that he decided to move to Canada and start a new life. Baljit Sahni holds no regrets and is happy to stay in Canada. “I came here to give my child a bright future and I am happy with my work.”
“It was the right decision to quit football at that moment. It is my right to think about my future. I took the right decision,” concluded Baljit Sahni.
- Is Neymar playing tonight for Al Hilal vs Al Tai in Kings Cup?
- Is Ruben Amorim the right manager to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United?
- How did India perform in SAFF Women's Championship 2024: key highlights & missed opportunities
- Mainz vs Bayern Munich Prediction, lineups, betting tips & odds
- Hyderabad FC vs Mohun Bagan Super Giant lineups, team news, prediction & preview
- ISL 2024-25: Top five Indian players from Matchweek 5
- Which pot will India occupy in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Round 3 draw?
- Who Is Oscar Bruzon? East Bengal's new head coach
- EA FC 25 title update 3: All you need to know about latest patch
- Indian Sports Calendar October 2024: Major events to look forward to in third week
- Will Oscar Bruzon's knowledge of Bashundhara Kings give East Bengal an edge in AFC Challenge Cup Clash?
- Indian Football Team Player Watch: Aakash, Chhangte & Gurpreet impress; Vikram, Suresh need to improve
- Narendra Modi highlights crazy El Clasico fandom in India
- ISL 2024-25: Alex Saji, Mourtada Fall highlight impenetrable Matchweek 6 Team of the Week defence
- Jose Molina reveals plan on 'how to beat' Hyderabad FC in ISL