Mukesh rises against odds

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Mukesh Kumar

Young Mukesh Kumar, who had a liver transplant two years ago, fought all odds to return to competitive football. His hard work paid rich dividends and Mukesh was adjudged the player of the recently-concluded Delhi leg of the Airtel rising star football tournament in the capital.

The youngster now dreams of playing in the I-League in coming years.
Two years ago, he was also selected to train with Scottish club Celtic FC, but couldn’t attend the camp because of his operation, but represented Delhi at the Coca-Cola Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy for thee years — 2010, 2011 and 2012.
“After the liver transplant, I needed to take proper rest and didn’t play football for a few months, which increased my weight. Doctors advised me to rest more, but my father insisted that I start regular training. Increased weight and low stamina were the main problems after the transplant,” Mukesh told this paper on Saturday.
“After recovery, my coach designed a physical training schedule for me to lose weight and regain stamina. With every passing day, I am trying to get back to normal exercises. From next year, I will be fit to last a full season,” said the Class X student at the CRPF Public School in Rohini. Asked who his inspiration was in the period of struggle, the teenager said, “Barcelona defender Eric Abidal was my inspiration... He too went through a liver transplant and made an impressive come back to football.”
Mukesh, who started playing football at age nine, also gave credit to the Baichung Bhutia Football School for his improved show.
“The BBF School helped me in many ways. They provided me international exposure as our academy participated in the U-16 Italy Cup. In the academy, we get trained under highly qualified coaches from Portugal,” he said.
Mukesh, who is determined to make his career in football, aims to get selected in the Under-18, Under-20, Under-23 youth national teams in the future but his ultimate dream is to play in the I-League.
“My training is going well and a competitive talent hunt like Airtel Rising Stars gave me an opportunity to judge myself. I will continue participation in various inter-school tournaments and then look for opportunities in clubs. I want to make my career in football,” said the 15-year-old.
Being a Class X student, studies are also crucial for him but he confesses that he is more inclined to football. “I try to maintain a balance between studies and training sessions, so that both of these don’t suffer. My elder sister helps me in my studies,” said Mukesh, who also loves listening to music and playing cricket.
Mukesh is currently bracing up for the inter-school Subroto Cup tournament.