Pune City's diamonds shining bright

To break the monotonous 4-4-2 formation which has been embedded in the Indian footballing philosophy, FC Pune City coach Ranko Popovic deployed a formation that gives his team more width on the flanks. The Serbian picked up two young boys, Sarthak Golui and Sahil Panwar, from his squad as his wing backs who do the defensive and the offensive duties at the same time.

Just like how the same experiment worked for Antonio Conte and his title winning Chelsea team, FC Pune City have also benefited through Sahil and Sarthak who have been termed ‘diamonds’ by Popovic.  “Both have potential but it depends on them how they handle. We are here to push, but they must do things from their end too in order to get the final product,” were the words of the Serbian after the win against Mumbai City FC where both his wing  backs were highly impressive.

Ruling the right
Similar to Victor Moses’ transformation from a winger to wing back, Sarthak’s makeover was from centre back to a wing back. Popovic realised that he has a surplus of centre backs and Sarthak has the ability to create chances with enough pace to run down the wings.

The 20-year-old from Kolkata has one goal and three assists in his maiden season of the Indian Super League after his transfer from Mohun Bagan. “I never thought that I will get so many chances in this team. At Mohun Bagan, breaking through to the senior team was very difficult for youngster and I thought it would be similar over here,” was his notion.

Both the wing backs share a similar story of their family members being footballers. Sarthak’s father played in the first division on Kolkata’s league for Eastern Railways. Now his son is living his dream.

“It was not s easy for him in Kolkata but I know that I can do what he could not. I know that it is too early to say anything but I am happy that I could contribute so much for the club,” he says.

Their teammate Ashique Kuruniyan who returned from a training camp Spanish Club Villarreal CF after an injury with many stories that amused these youngsters to live the European reverie. “I always loved watching John Terry play for Chelsea even though I am a Manchester United fan and Ashique came back with so many stories from Spain. We could all see the change in his game and if I get a chance, I will definitely not think twice. I am working hard every day and hopefully soon, I can at least get one chance.”

The Patronage descends
“Papa se dil rakhne ke liye keh diya 2019   tak kisi team mein nahi aaya toh wapas aa jaunga,” were Sahil’s words to his father before this season. For an 18-year old, he was under a lot of pressure from his father Deepak Panwar who is a former footballer himself.

His only justification could be that Sahil left the house on 2014 for former I-league club Pune FC’s academy and did not play a single club game. However, he went on to play for the Indian Under-18 side in the SAFF Cup. The club had shut and FCPC acquired the lad. “For the first five games, I sat in the stands and then I after that then I was on the bench for a game. The next match, I was in the first team,” he recalls.

“The first thing that I did was that I called my father who still wanted to watch me on TV to believe me,” he gives an idea of his father’s weight on him to make a name. It is because his old man has faced the hardships of an athlete. Even after representing Dehradun in the Santosh Trophy for five seasons, he could not make it to the Indian team.

The striker’s footballing blood ran to his son Sahil and daughter Raksha who both grew up watching him dribble the ball. “Mai aur didi unko dekhte thhe.”

Impressing his father was not his only aim this season though. “My best moment was to play against Anas (Edathodika) bhai when we beat Jamshedpur 2-1. It felt amazing to be on the same pitch as him,” he says.

“He was much senior to me when I was in Pune FC but he was so humble. He used to train with us when he was recovering from his injury. I always wanted to play with him or against him and one of those things happened this season,” he adds.

Sahil has featured in seven matches till now settling in the left wing back position. The side is placed in the top four of the points table and if they grab the silverware, then hopefully senior Panwar will be impressed with his son.