FIFA U-17 World Cup : Goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

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FIFA U-17 World Cup : Goalkeeper: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

Name: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

Father’s name: Moirangthem Romit

Mother’s name: Moirangthem Ongbi Usha

Address: Moirang Phiwangbam Leikai, Moirang

Also known as the “Wall of India”, Goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem first started playing with a mere dummy football made by discarded socks fitted with waste papers. When he was studying at Churachandpur Navodaya, Dheeraj always used to look with envy at his seniors playing football at the school field but cannot join as he was a junior at that time.

But he did not stop his own practice. With utmost zeal, he practiced at every empty field he had known. Seeing his enthusiasm, Coach of AMOFA, Moirang, Oja Surendro gave him his first break.

Oja Surendro let him play in the L. Borchand Memorial Football Tournament in 2011 when he was at class 8 and this makes the first turning point in his career. He was then selected in the state team.

At the age of eleven, Dheeraj got All India selection to enter the AIFF Academy located at Kalyani, West Bengal. From then, there is no turning back for Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem. To be said, this Academy shaped his goal-keeping career.

In 2012, Dheeraj was left out of the Indian squad to be played at Under 14 football tournament held at Nepal and Japan. This turn of events made Dheeraj very sorry for himself and he was unsure of what to do next.

But the encouragement he get from his family made him do better and he was always the number one goalkeeper in every Indian team. In 2013, his team made his country proud by winning the Under Sixteen SAF Tournament held at Kathmandu.

Till now, he played more than 50 international tournaments held at Europe, America, Latin America and many other Asian countries. Out of this, he led the India team in most of the tournaments.

He was selected among the best 50 football players from Asian countries and was trained under best coaches of Barcelona, Manchester United and Inter Milan.

Moreover, Dheeraj was trained under the expert guidance of ten different goalkeeping coaches. Now he is the number one goalkeeper among his peers. And he believes that he will give his best in this Under 17 FIFA World Cup tournament.