Hasil makes it to Indian squad

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When Valanchery lad Mohammed Hasil made it into the Indian Under-14 team for AFC football fest to be held in Nepal, two coaches, one who spotted him and the other groomed, were the most satisfied persons.

“I knew he was a talented lad when I first saw him in a tournament two years ago. His physical education teacher (Shoukath) asked me to take him in and I arranged his schooling in Sacred Hearts, Thevara.

The boy is also good in studies,” said C.C. Jacob, former international, who spotted the talent in Hazil and took him into the Thevara Academy two years ago.

“The best part is that he works hard, you don’t have to keep pushing him to the ground, he likes to be there. I told him to train hard at the national camp and I am sure he will become a better footballer in the years to come,” he said.

Shoukath, who has groomed Hazil, during his tenure at Safi English School in Valanchery has the same opinion. “It is his sheer hard work that has helped him to gain a spot in the national squad.

I started to train him five years ago and I am happy that his talent got recognised now,” he said.

Hasil said, “I am really happy about my selection and to play as a striker for the country. Now, we are going to New Delhi and from there will go to Kathmandu on Thursday. The camp at Kalyani was a good exposure for me. I am very much excited,” he said.

The 13-year-old striker played for Malappuram district team in 2009 and grabbed the selectors’ attention to make it to the state team.

The State team was sent to Kalyani in West Bengal for the AIIF camp and from there along with four other players from Malappuram he was selected to the camp.

However, other students were not able to make it into the final round of 22. Hasil has represented the State team twice, first when he was 12.