Sahal Abdul Samad: Schattorie vows to make me best midfielder in India

The midfielder feels upcoming away games could become a turning point in their season.

Sahal Abdul Samad, as always, is beaming as he sits down for an exclusive chat with Khel Now. The Kerala Blasters midfield maestro is sitting across me, wearing the club's white polo t-shirt paired with navy shorts. And I can't forget that smile of his, can I? The smile is nothing short of a staple in his 'outfit'. [KH_ADWORDS type="3" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] With an afternoon training session scheduled, Sahal has no time to waste. To begin with things, we go back to his roots. Sahal did his schooling in the UAE before moving back to India for his higher studies. But, ultimately, chasing his football dream was the motive behind the decision and he describes it as the best decision in his life. "That [moving from the UAE to India] was my best decision. My father and brother helped me make that decision. They told me that I could take both studies and football forward if I moved back to Kerala," he recalls. While leaving UAE to return to India was a big call to make, there has been no turning back for the 22 year-old since. Four years down the line, Sahal Abdul  Samad is a Kerala Blasters and Indian national team superstar now. It certainly has been quite a journey for him but there is still a long way to go, according to the player himself. "Dream come true," Sahal remarks as he reflects on his journey so far. "I came here, played in the Indian national team but nothing is done yet. There is a lot more to play and I'm working hard," he insists. Having made his Kerala Blasters debut in the 2017-18 season, the midfielder has been on a meteoric rise, winning the ISL Emerging Player of the Season and AIFF Emerging Player of the Year awards last year. [KH_ADWORDS type="4" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] However, there is so much contrast when we look at Kerala Blasters' story in recent times. The Kochi-based outfit, who finished ninth last season, have won just two of their 11 games so far. But Sahal Abdul Samad believes the poor results are not down to the team failing to turn up on the pitch. The Yellow Army have begun 2020 with a thumping 5-1 victory against Hyderabad FC and the Kannur lad is hopeful that the win is the start of a good run for the side. "We have performed well in all the games but the results are against us. It has slightly to do with bad luck. We have started 2020 with a win and we are working to keep it going," Sahal hypothesizes. "Moving forward, it is a new year, the injured players are recovering and hopefully, it is a good second phase," he says optimistically. Despite the Blasters' struggles last term, Sahal had a highly positive campaign as he managed to have his breakthrough season and went on to win the ISL Emerging Player of the Season award. Not this time though. The Indian international has started just five of the side's 11 games and has found himself going in and out of Eelco Schattorie's first eleven. However, that has not fazed Sahal, who understands the need to be patient. [KH_ADWORDS type="2" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] "As a player, you will have ups and downs. The coach has told everyone, including me, that it will take time for him to fit into his system. What I have to do is remain calm and prove myself when I get the chance," the 22-year-old explains. Gazillions of criticism have come Schattorie's way for not playing Sahal more often but the Dutchman has never backed down from standing up to them and vowing to make him the best midfielder in the country. That is not a claim that Schattorie uses to escape from the wrath of the fans and media. Both the coach and the player are on the same page on this, which is evident from how Sahal stresses the importance of time in his development. "He is a very experienced coach. He has been in India for many years, so he knows Indian players well. Also, NorthEast reached the play-offs for the first time last season. That is the sign of a quality coach. It has been nice working with him," he says. [KH_ADWORDS type="1" align="center"][/KH_ADWORDS] "Since the time he first met me, he has been promising that he will make me the best midfielder in India. That will take time and that time is all that the coach is asking for and why he is asking me to stay calm. It takes time and he needs to be given time," the youngster elucidates. Apart from Kerala Blasters, 2019 saw the 22-year-old make his mark in the Indian national team as well. He has danced his way into the international football scene just like he often dances his way past defenders but has now found himself a regular spot in the Blue Tigers team. Asked to put the feeling of donning the Blue jersey into words, Sahal Abdul Samad struggles to find the apt adjective from the Malayalam vocabulary before expressing his delight at having shared the dressing room with some of India's best stars. "It's a spectacular feeling. The dressing room is amazing. I was able to share the dressing room and play with the senior players that I dreamt of. To be with all of them itself is a blessing!"

Sahal Abdul Samad and Sunil Chhetri during the Intercontinental Cup in 2019

When discussing India and the top footballers in the country, it is hard to not talk about captain Sunil Chhetri and his eminent influence. Practice, rest and diet are Chhetri's three golden factors in having a good and long career; and Sahal takes the skipper's words very seriously. "Sunil bhai helps me with everything - on and off the field," he tells Khel Now. "The first time he met me, he stressed the importance of practice, rest and diet. I still maintain that. To have a long career, these three factors are really important," the youngster explains. "If he sees someone eating anything unhealthy, he immediately stops them. Chhetri bhai is the perfect role model," he lauds. As we near the end of the chat, I enquire Sahal about Kerala Blasters' targets for the rest of the season. The Yellow Army get on the road for their next three big games against ATK, Jamshedpur and FC Goa awaiting and he has set his eyes on coming back with some points in the bag. [KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News | Article Continues Below"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS] "We have three away games coming up. All three are tough games. We will play to earn positive results in these three. If we manage to do so, it will definitely be a turning point for us," he asserts.

Sahal Abdul Samad's Five-a-side Indian Football Team

To finish things off, I ask Sahal Abdul Samad to name his Indian football five-a-side team. "Can I include me?" he jokes before naming Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika, Anirudh Thapa, Amarjit Singh and Chhetri in his team.