Who is Som Kumar? Kerala Blasters’ Goalkeeping Sensation

The 19-year-old is ready to make an impact in Indian football.

Chasing the European dream and making a name for himself in the Slovenian youth ranks, Som Kumar’s career has now taken an important turn, bringing him back home. The young goalkeeper from Bengaluru has emerged as a figure to idolize for aspiring Indian footballers looking to kick-start their quest for European glory.

The 19-year-old has left the Europeans in awe, showcasing glimpses of the immense talent he possesses and surprising them with the magnificent potential Indian football holds.

After his journey through the youth ranks of the Slovenian Junior League, Som Kumar is now seeking a new home in Indian football with Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 season. The following is a scouting report on the young goalkeeper.

Career and Performances

Som Kumar’s professional football journey began in 2018 when he joined the Bengaluru FC U-13 team at the age of 13. He later played for Boca Juniors, a Bangalore-based franchise, gaining valuable international experience in U-13 tournaments held in Dubai.

After his spell in Boca, Som moved to BYFL academy and played in the U-13 I-League. His consistent performances in the league and Karnataka State Championship earned him a call-up to the Indian National U-17 camp in 2020, at just 14 years old.

Som Kumar moved to Europe later in 2020, where he signed with a Slovenian club NK Bravo’s U-17 side. He went to Italy with the club for an U-15 summer tournament featuring several prominent clubs from all over Europe. Bravo faced the youth side of Italian Serie A club Bologna in the tournament, where the youngster impressed with an exceptional display between the sticks, saving three penalties and securing a victory for his side.

Som was later loaned out to another NextGen Liga club NK Krka where he blossomed with first team action. He impressed during his stint, helping them finish third in the league, only four points behind the winners, which landed him a permanent move to the club. Meanwhile, he established himself as a regular at the youth levels of his national team.

𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕! 👏#SomKumar becomes the 2nd youngest goalkeeper to debut for @KeralaBlasters and 4th youngest in the #ISL! 🔥#LetsFootball #KeralaBlasters #DheerajSingh | @Sports18 pic.twitter.com/657Sa6aPvP

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) October 20, 2024

In 2023, Som Kumar signed for the U-19 team of NK Olimpija Ljubljana, one of the most prominent and successful clubs in Slovenian football. He was once again, formidable in goal, keeping four clean sheets in six unbeaten games, which earned him a call-up to train with the senior team during pre-season.

After a successful spell in the youth ranks of Slovenian football, Som Kumar decided to return to India. He was signed by Kerala Blasters ahead of the season, making his competitive debut for the club under Mikael Stahre in the Durand Cup.

He quickly became one of Stahre’s trusted names in goal, keeping two clean sheets in his first three games for the club. However, he was sidelined due to an injury right before the start of the league season. Som Kumar made his return and marked his ISL debut in a 2-1 away win against Mohammedan SC.

Playing Style

Som Kumar can be profiled in duality, based entirely on his goalkeeping style. He is more of a blend between a traditional and a modern-day goalkeeper. While his traditional shot-stopping abilities are more prominent than his modern technical skills, it is fair to say that he is still a work in progress.

The youngster relies on his reflexes, which have become the biggest strength in his portfolio, once again leaning toward the traditional style. He is aggressive inside his box, advancing at the right moment to pressure the opposition.

Addressing his modern technical attributes, Som is decent with the ball and possesses an array of passes to help in the build-up. This will improve with time and experience, and a ball-playing goalkeeper will be highly valued by any club, especially in India.

ALSO READ: Who is Mumbai City FC‘s new young star Nathan Rodrigues?

One of Som Kumar’s most distinctive features is his height. Standing at 6ft 3in, his lanky build makes him a towering presence in goal, giving him an edge over many in modern-day Indian football. This aerial dominance allows him to effectively handle long balls and crosses into the box.

An aspect in which Som Kumar has been struggling this season is his decision-making inside the box. His anticipation is spot on, but he often finds himself in situations where being caught in two minds proves costly.

However, he was confident and aggressive in advancing towards the ball during the Durand Cup, and it seems the pressure of the big stage may have gotten to him in the league stage. Despite this, the courage shown by the young lad for charging in at the opposition attacker’s feet deserves appreciation.

In short, Som Kumar is an overall package between the sticks, who can gel in comfortably with any setup given the right guidance.

Future Potential

Excelling both physically and technically at such a young age across the continents, there is no doubt about the immense potential Som Kumar possesses.

The fact that he is still a raw talent despite having much experience under his belt makes him malleable enough to fit into any setup, opening the door to countless possibilities. However, there is certainly room for improvement in many aspects, especially now that he has had a rough start to his career in the ISL.

The mistakes in the league were mostly due to pressure and inexperience, and it is important to note that he was thrown under the bus by his defense on multiple occasions. Despite not keeping a clean sheet, the lad has pulled off incredible saves at crucial moments for the Blasters.

While bouncing back from a setback after conceding a penalty on his debut, emerging with a save against Mohammedan SC in the final minutes of an away game to secure three points is a testament to his elite mentality, on which he needs to build his career.

Kochi is a tough place for a youngster to thrive under pressure, with the fans’ expectations always weighing over your shoulders. However, if he can beat the heat of the Cochin furnace, Indian football will have a powerful shield between the posts in Som Kumar, both for club and country.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.