I work a lot on shooting and finishing: Rafi

It’s been ten years for Mahindra striker Mohd Rafi who has been called for the second time for the national camp. The previous being in 2005 when Sukhwinder Singh was the coach, though the striker failed to make the cut at that time he is confident enough to make the cut this time. The striker spoke to the-aiff.com about his journey so far. Excerpts

You got a call for the national camp earlier as well but you failed to make the cut at that time? How did you come that tough phase? A) I got my first call for the national camp in 2005. At that time I had played only one national league. I was lacked experience. But after joining Mahindra United I started playing regularly and that helped me in getting confidence and improving my game.

Which has been the toughest phase of your career? A) I don’t think I had such a face in my career so far. I had great time with all the coaches I have worked with. All of them have been very helpful to me.

Playing for past four years with Mahindra how have you improved and which all were the areas that you worked upon? A) After joining Mahindra United I improved upon many things like heading, shooting, finishing and many basic things. I do work a lot especially on my shooting and finishing which I feel I need to work more.

The current I league season has witnessed you in the best of the shape and form? What led to this transformation as compared to previous editions? A) Comparing to last season I don’t think there is much difference in my game. In previous years the team needed me to play in mostly in half back positions rather than playing as a striker. So I had to adapt in to the situations. But this season under new coach David Booth I am playing in the striker position only. He gave a lot of confidence to me, so that I get more time to specialize on my favorite position.
How did your journey in football start? A) I started playing football at the age of 14. I played for GVHS Trikkaripure, Kasargod district, Kerala. Then I got a call from SBT Trivandram thanks to then coach NM Najeeb. I played for SBT for three years. I represented Kerala U 21 team and I got the best player award that season. I represented Kerala in Santhosh trophy team for three years and after 2005 Santhosh Trophy I got the call from Mahindra United.

Kerala has seen a decline in the football scenario what went wrong and why has the state not been able to produce quality players now as compared to early days? A) It is a true fact that Kerala football has been a decline in football scenario. There are many reasons for that. Still there is talent in the State but the opportunity to play in the main stream is lacking. The main reason is the number of good teams in the state is very less. Infrastructure is also a reason. There is no academy to nourish the talent.

Source : AIFF

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Tuesday 10 November 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.