At an arbitrary point on the journey to Sodepur, about 12 kms from Kolkata, dark grey meets muddy brown. It’s the end of the motorable road, with the Public Works Department having either run out of money or deciding that enough progress had been made. At the end of that stretch, a two-storied structure towers over the rest in the locality. Welcome to the world of Subrata Paul — star of India’s Nehru Cup triumph and born-again hero of Indian football.

Bidhan Pally is a lower middle-class locality, and the Paul household is only now breaking out of that bracket. His father, Pranballav, owns a small-time sweets shop at Partharpur Market, a few minutes walk from home and Paul’s mother admits that raising five children — Subrata has a brother and three sisters — was hardly easy.

“His father wanted him to study hard and acquire a decent job. We were not very well off at that time. But I put my foot down and persuaded his father to change his mind. Mishtu (Subrata) wanted to become a goalkeeper ever since he was spotted by Samir Chatterjee of Sodepur Maidan.”

Things have certainly changed now. The modern house they live in today was built two years ago and the entire area joined in the celebrations when Paul saved three penalty kicks in the shoot-out as India beat Syria on penalties on Monday night.

Subrata’s progress in the world of Indian football has made his father a keen follower now, and he says that he wants his son to pursue a career abroad.

... contd.