Anas Edathodika
Age: 22
Position : Defender
Team: Mumbai FC
Native: Malapuram
Three years ago, a former Mahindra United and SBT player – Feroze Sheriff – spotted an impressive and youthful talent at an inter collegiate football match between his team EMEA College of Arts & Science and the NSS College. Feroze asked the newly spotted player to get admission at EMEA and later recommended him for a newly found professional club named Mumbai FC.
The then young talent is now a consistent performer in the I League and a regular first team player at the Mumbai FC. He is none other than the versatile defender Anas Edathodika. A good tackler, his anticipation of his opponents’ plays makes him stand out. He is also an excellent header and sticks to his man.
Anas began to take the game of football seriously from his tenth standard when he was called for the inter district championship to represent the Malappuram under 14 team. After his 12th grade, he joined NSS college, Manjeri from where he was selected to play for the Kerala state U21 team. The team with some great performances from Anas returned victoriously as the champions of the National championship held at Tamil Nadu that year.
This was when the current national under 14 goal keeping coach recognized Anas’ talent and asked him to join him at the EMEA College where he spent rest of his college life.
At the age of 20, Anas was taken for trials at Mumbai FC by Feroze. He won an initial one year contract with the club which was preparing for its maiden appearance in the second divsion national league. The team won its promotion to the I League that year and Anas his 3 year contract extension.
Anas has been turning some heads with performances in the I-League for the last couple of years. The defender has one more year left in his contract and aims to see his contract through. Anas represented Maharashtra in his first Santosh Trophy last year and made a mark by scoring a goal in his first ever match in the nationals.
Anas is yet another footballer who hails from the land of soccer aficionados – Malappuram. He was born to Mohammed Kutty and Khadeeja on 12th December, 1987. Anas also has 2 sisters in his family. Anas is an admirer of Manchester United’s Serbian center back Nemanja Vidić and Mahesh Gawli of Dempo SC. A team which he dreams to play is surprisingly Mumbai FC’s cross town rivals Mahindra United. Anas is also a die hard supporter of the English club Arsenal FC.
