Debra is village in Kharagpur sub-division of West Mednipur. The rough land which came into the limelight a few years ago for Maoist activities has hardly seen emergence of a footballer, gaining prominence.
Sagun Soren is such a name. The 23-year-old footballer lives in a remote village named Bisrigeria, a distant place from Debra. Football was never a cup of tea of the villagers. But Ram Soren, father of Sagun had a different purpose.
He used to play football regularly, in district and even in Kolkata. But, being a railway service-man he could not continue with football due to his work-pressure which ultimately led to tiredness and exhaustion. But he had an insatiable desire which helped him to fulfill dreams through his son Sagun Soren.
Then it became the story of sacrifice and zeal. Every day, Ram took his son to the field at dawn, even during the monsoon and winter season, teaching Sagun the basics of the game. Ram did not fail to get Sagun awaken at dawn even if, he returned home in the morning after doing night-shift.
This continued till Sagun adopted the basics of the game, started learning more at a local football camp from a local coach. But Ram, staying most of the days in a week at Kharagpur due to office-engagement, was aware of his son’s development. Whenever, Sagun needed a pair of boots, or jersey, or shorts, he used to see his father, coming back home once a week with all the gears he needed!
Sagun, a student of Debra College, had a little experience playing in the CFL for Dalhousie AC and later for Howrah Union. But he hardly got the opportunity there, getting opportunity to play only four matches in the CFL for Howrah Union last season.
That is why, the hard-working midfielder expressed gratitude to the Bengal Super League. It helped him to establish as a professional footballer in Bengal and build up his career for the future.
Sagun stated, “BSL is giving me the platform to build-up career for the future. We are getting adequate match-time. Football-loving people are watching us. Football-scouts across the country are also observing our performance through the television. BSL is helping us to settle career through football.”
More significantly, Sagun’s father is the only earning member of his family and naturally he had to struggle to survive financially.
But BSL has helped Sagun to add strength in his family’s earning. His family is surviving in a better way than it was a couple of months ago.
So, along with the financial boost, Sagun Soren is building up dreams of ascertaining his profession through football. He is an ardent fan of Tony Cruise and Paul Pogba. He often watches videos of their matches and training also.
But interestingly, Soren expressed thankfulness to his team’s chief coach Jayanta Sen, the former India international who earned prominence as a midfielder for his hard-work and passing accuracy.
Sagun admitted, “Jayanta sir was a midfielder and I also play in the midfield. So, Jayanta sir’s guidance is helping me a lot. I am improving the basics of midfield operation every day from him.”
