Situated in the foothills of the Chamundi Hills, the picturesque Mysore is the second most populous city of Karnataka. The city, which boasts of rich cultural heritage, has produced a plethora of football talents. In recent times, the football scene of the state has seen a massive revamp as a result of which, they bagged the Santosh Trophy title. 

Carlton Chapman, the last captain to lead the Red and Gold brigade to the NFL title, is a revered figure in Kolkata. Mariappa Kempaiah has represented India at the Melbourne and Rome Olympic Games. Additionally, Ahmed Khan, another legend, scored twice for the Indian national team in the 1952 Olympics. Mohun Bagan faithful still remember the name Mohammed Abdus Sattar who played a crucial role in the Durand Cup winning team of 1953.

Praful Kumar Venkatesh, a young and promising defender hailing from Mysore, is trying to make a name for himself in the Indian football circuit. In this article, we will dive deep into his journey as a footballer.

Early Life

Praful Kumar Venkatesh is a 21-year-old center-back who hails from the Mysore district of Karnataka. Neither his father Venkatesh, a cop by occupation in Karnataka police, nor his mother Deepika had any solid grasp of football.

Praful’s journey in football began after his fifth standard. Under the mentorship of Babugaraj, he honed his skills at the Development Youth Employment Sports (DYS) in Mandya district. Due to his financial constraints, he lived in a hostel and kept all his focus on his game. 

He tried to switch his position, however, he understood for good that he was best at the stopper back position. His beginning days were filled with successes and his performance earned him a promotion to Bengaluru Praful did not hesitate to leave for Bengaluru.

“You have to keep confidence at the beginning to climb the ladder,” said Praful. He was playing and studying parallelly in Bengaluru. During this stint at Bengaluru, in 2019, a significant turning point in his career came in the form of a call-up to the under-17 Indian national team. The camp not only boosted his confidence but also helped him to train in the best of the facilities. “I started to believe that I can also play for the country and it’s no magic except hard work,” Praful said. 

The under-17 batch was then coached by Shuvendu Panda and current Northeast United player Parthib Gogoi and Mumbai City’s Ahan Prakash were also a part of this squad. After playing a few practice matches, the team went to South Africa to play in the Future Champions competition. He got game time in matches held in Malaysia as well. In due course of time. he earned his spot in the under-19 Indian Arrows.

Injuries and Recovery

Praful had no previous history of injuries. While he was playing for Arrows, he suffered an ankle injury. It got worse when he came to know that he had injuries in both the ankles and his ligament was torn on further evaluation. Often, in India, footballers suffer injuries because of poor playing conditions and the lack of proper diagnostic facilities for the sports persons makes the situation worse. 

Praful was down in the dumps, however, he wanted to return to the field. It was not all dark after the heavy rainfall for Praful. After recovery, he was selected for the Kerala Blasters Reserve side and he played in the Kerala Premier League. Unfortunately, he suffered a back injury in KPL which restricted him from playing football for a year.

During this tough time, his father Mr. Venkatesh motivated him to stay focused on his career as a footballer which played a significant role in his return to the pitch. He decided to make a comeback at Bengaluru League after a year lost due to the back injury. He represented Bengaluru United and after his short stint at Bengaluru, he switched his allegiance to United Sports Club and played second division for them. 

Praful described his time at CFL by saying “It is tough but once you establish yourself in CFL, you will be ready to play anywhere in India.” He got the opportunity to play at Reliance Developmental League during his time at United SC.

Where Is He Now?

Praful is now playing for the Chennaiyin FC Reserve team. This season, he can make a breakthrough and get into the senior team. Praful revealed to Athletic India that as he is training with the senior players, it’s easy for him to improve now. He said, “The players are experienced; I am thrilled to share the practice session with them. It is easier to understand the mistakes and correct them when you closely observe them.”

According to him, his fitness has improved after playing competitive games in the Durand Cup.  

Owen Coyle is known for his football philosophy based on youth development. He has been phenomenal in the Indian soil. Upon asking him about what his coach suggested, he replied, “He wants me to play, he believes that I can get into the team if I work hard.”

Praful’s height is a positive aspect, and he can play both LCB and RCB. His endurance and physique offer him an upper hand in the Indian conditions. He played all three matches in the Durand Cup group stage for Chennaiyan FC and scored a winner against Assam Rifles in the third match of their fixture. When asked about his goal, he replied “I aimed it perfectly and I was really happy after the ball got into the net.”

Almost all footballers have an idol and Praful is no exception. Cristiano Ronaldo and Sunil Chhetri are the two players he mentioned in the interview. He closely follows both Cristiano and Sunil and he wants to don the number 5 jersey for his team.

Like all other players, Praful too has a dream of playing for the Kolkata Giants. He said, “I would like represent Mohun Bagan or East Bengal once, I want to play for a Kolkata Club.“

Listen to Seniors and Coaches

Praful wants to remind the youngsters that hard work is the key. He told Athletic India, “Young players have to listen to their coach and senior players. If they come across serious injuries, they have to believe in themselves. Football is a very hard game, injuries and recoveries will be a part of your journey, but you have to be mentally strong.” He also added, “Junior players have to listen to the senior players and the coaching staff. Observe the senior players and whatever they tell you listen to that.”

Whatsapp Group of Athletic India