Defender Irani becomes goalie when the chips are down
MUMBAI: Donning two hats — that of a defender and then goalkeeper — in one match is a real challenge. But 13-year-old Paashan Irani has been doing it with ease for two years now.
His dual act helped his team Campion School edge out Cathedral & John Connon 4-3 via tie-breaker to storm into the division II semi-finals of the Nike-MSSA Inter-School Football Tournament at the Azad Maidan on Saturday.
Irani after playing as a stopper till full time switched to goal keeping immediately during the penalty shoot outs. And no, it was not because their regular goal-keeper was out of commission, just that Irani has the confidence of his team that he will deliver.
The class eight student not only saved a powerful kick from Cathedral’s Rayan Patel but also scored one for his school during the shootout after the full time ended in a dull goalless draw.
Apart from Irani, Hushad Khan, Vinay Rao and substitute Rahil Sood scored a goal each.
Irani is not overtly aggressive and is quite sporting on the field. Each time he wished his opponents luck before they took their shot during the penalty shoot outs. However, the youngster does not enjoy wearing the goalkeeper’s gloves.
“There is lot of pressure in this job. And I don’t like playing under pressure. The situation is tense and one has to be very alert. However, I am doing this because my team needs me to keep during the tie-breakers. As long as they want me, I will continue doing it,” he said.
Coach Hanzel Fernandes is happy with his protégé’s performance till now.
“He has been doing a good job under the bar during the tie breakers. He’s been keeping since 2005 during the inter-school match against Vidya Vikasini and he did a great job there. He is short but very agile and flexible. That is why he is donning the goal keeper’s hat,” said Fernandes.
Irani has parental support for his pursuing the sport but he prefers them to stay away from his games.
“They have been really supportive. But I don’t invite them for my matches as they will make me work more hard if they find any fault in my game,” is the candid response from the lad.
