Hope this award will motivate youngsters: Subrata Paul

Karam karo, phal ki chinta mat karo (Do your duty without thinking about the results), Subrata Paul read out the phrase from the Bhagavad Geeta, when asked what the Arjuna Award meant to him. The Indian football team goal-keeper said hard work was his motto and that he never expected a recognition.

Paul was one among the 15 recepients of the prestigious Arjuna Award from President Pranab Mukherjee in the capital this afternoon.

The award came as a “surprise” to him, considering that the last time a footballer received the award was in 2011 (Sunil Chhetri).

“I am very happy and proud to get the honour, but I never play for awards. I believe in hard work and give my 100 per cent when I am on the field, at a training session or a match. If I am deserving, I will get the recognition.

“And it’s added motivation to do better,” Paul told this paper, before leaving for the airport to catch a flight to Mumbai where the national team are undergoing training.

“I hope this award will help youngsters look up to me and take up football, and that way India can produce many more football stars.

“This will help us make a great team and we can play the Asia Cup and World Cup on a regular basis,” said Paul, who has been with the Indian team for the last 11 years.

Paul said that the team were training hard for the friendly against Puerto Rico. “The match is crucial for us. And we are keen to do well, as a good show will help improve our world ranking.”

He also felt that next year’s Under-17 World Cup would bring a sea change in Indian football.

“It’s a massive tournament as all the top football-playing nations including Brazil, Argentina, Germany etc. will be here to compete. The youngsters will get a chance to play against them, and learn from them.

“So I believe this will bring a big change in the country’s football system. Not only we will get good infrastructure but also facilities which will help the team grow better. And we, like Japan or Korea, can play in the Asia Cup.”

On the current form of the team, he added: “It’s transition period for Indian football..more than 20 players including Bhaichung (Bhutia), Deepak (Mondal) bhai, Abhishek Yadav among others have retired. Currently we have a lot of junior players — whose average age is U-24.

“So I want to give credit to our coach Constantine who has built a really good team. I believe if these players play together for two-three years... they can make it big.”