Ebbie Kodiattu - one young NRI footballer

We heard about NRI success stories in technology, academics, medicine , business entrepreneurship etc. But here goes story of a young man from India who is trying to make a place in the soccer field in USA. Though soccer is not so popular as a professional game in USA, but the country stands in position 19 in FIFA world ranking, which is of course not bad compared to the number of countries who play this game.

Here is an article from Ebbie Kodiat about himself :

" I was born in Kuwait on July 11th 1979. My father was a banker and my mom a pediatrician, and both were then working in Kuwait.In 1985 we moved back to India, and I began my schooling career in
Tiruvalla, Kerala. My father was an avid sportsman, who played cricket & hockey for the Kerala University, and Football and basketball for the Nagpur University, where he did his B.Sc. My mom is that silent supporter, who is always with you with refreshments and first aid, and even today comes for all my games, even if it is to fly there, and comes very near to having an heart attack every time I have the ball. At 6 years of age, my father would take me on most mornings (about 5.00 a.m.) to the public stadium nearby, on his scooter, and we would kick around and do some fitness exercises
(something I disliked) I went on to play for the district team in football and for the state junior team in badminton.

In 1992, we immigrated to the US I continued playing football in high school, and was chosen every year for the schools ALL-STAR team. After 4 years of High School, I joined the Salem State College, here in the Boston area, where they have a good soccer program. I had a soccer scholarship. At college, I used to be named "player of the week" on numerous occasions, for the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). In my third year I was named "player of the year" for the whole NCAA conference. This is awarded by coaches voting for who they think was the best player of the year. Meantime, I was chosen for the Massachusetts Senior State team, and then for the Regional team and then to the US "B" team in Portland, Oregon. On coming back, I was asked to go and practice with the "New England Revolution" team. They are the professional MLS ( Major League Soccer) team from this area and have a few world-cup players from various countries. I have practiced (spring training) with them. Since the Rev's have had a lot of contractual obligations etc., they wanted me to be with the Boston Bulldogs, which in-a-way is their second team, from which they pull new players. As such, with the help of my agent, I am now fully employed with the Boston Bulldogs. We had our spring training in Ausheland, in Norway and in San Diego in California. The bulldogs play in the US A-League, which, structurally, is like the 2nd division in the UK.
Because of the time consumed for this, I have taken a temporary break from college, where I have another year to go before I graduate. I will be taking courses during off-season. Yes, a lot of people are shocked to see an Indian playing football as a professional. Right now, I am a starter, as striker, for the bulldogs , while the Irish International, Steve Grant sits on the bench. I guess it is quite an acknowledgement. I had a call from my agent yesterday saying that coach Clavijo of the Revolution told him that he would be calling me up very soon. Well, waiting for that to happen.Meanwhile, my coach Steve Nicol, of the bulldogs is a 13 year veteran of the Liverpool team of England. He was named last year as one of the 100 best footballers of the century and early 90's was also named as the "footballer of the year" in Eeurope. One of the encouragements, he gives me is by saying, "Ebbie, just keep doing the things you do."

To young players in India :

Firstly, stay in school, .try to accomplish honours there, because that is an "achieving" exercise. When you study, you may have to read again and again, .it's a numbers game, but soon one can train the mind to absorb more. When one studies...one becomes sort-of-scientific, and the game of football
today is also very scientific, iIt is not enough to play well, we have also to learn to win . Build up stamina, run fast, tracking your speed with a watch. Do it daily .and check if next week there is a change. Build up your 'physic' because these days the game is very physical and you cannot get pushed around by other players. Smoking, drinking will distract you.
I strongly believe that our players don't have to go outside the country to become better players.We have the resources to develop within, only if "the environment within" changes.We need to promote corporate sponsorships with incentives that will bring about the best of "achievers".

Though born in Kuwait, I am proud Indian Citizen. I hope I will get an opportunity, sometime, to play for my country India. I believe I still have the time for that, but that is my goal. The day when we play in the world cup , I believe is not far away. We need only three things - discipline, no-politics & an achievement drive. "