Breaking
FootballNet.in
Ad
Ad
Ad
Tag

Pritam Kotal

Browsing
Features

Virat Kohli and Sunil-bhai are the pioneers, quips Pritam Kotal

By
National Team defender Pritam Kotal stresses that the modern-day Indian footballer is extremely health conscious and is never willing to give in to the temptation.

New Delhi: National Team defender Pritam Kotal stresses that the modern-day Indian footballer is extremely health conscious and is never willing to give in to temptation.

As the Blue Tigers prepare in Doha for the forthcoming World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers, in a candid chat, Pritam opens up about his role in the team, adjusting to the coach’s philosophy, the short duration camp, him taking inspiration from Virat Kohli’s fitness regime, staying away from luchi, begun-bhaga, mishti doi and rosogolla, and much more. EXCERPTS:

What have you been doing since the International Friendlies in March?

The AFC Cup was on schedule till some time back. So I was working out at home and at a nearby football field. My club coach and the National Team coach had provided me with certain fitness routines and I was constantly working on them.

But with the second wave of the pandemic striking, I could not move out. Thereafter, I was confined to my personal gym at my house. From that time, I concentrated on high intensity workouts focussing primarily on strength training. In the evenings I also used to work with the ball on the roof top. But that’s nothing in comparison to hitting the green with the ball.

Has it been an ideal preparation in Doha with a shorter camp?

Longer duration camps always help. Most of the boys came from their respective homes where they were all kind of locked down. Majority of us last played our last competitive match almost two months back. So a longer camp would have helped. But it is what it is.

Footballers nowadays have become extremely health conscious.

The trend is here to stay. Nowadays there are no off-seasons for a footballer. Even during a vacation, we have to make sacrifices.

What kind of?

It’s all about the diet. Even on a vacation Indian footballers don’t eat anything and everything. The mentality — you are what you eat — has sunk in. So no one gives in to the temptation.

When did all of this sink in?

We were educated about a sportsman’s diet during our AIFF Academy days. Post 2015-16 I took it extremely seriously – that’s when the realisation crept in. I read about how Virat Kohli approaches his fitness, his training regime, diet, and how never ever he goes against the roadmap laid down by his personal trainer. Having Sunil-bhai (Chhetri) around helped as with his controlled diet plan, Sunil-bhai’s fitness and performances reached a different level. Both Virat and Sunil-bhai are the pioneers.

Thereafter?

I roped in my personal trainer, set up my personal gym at home, and eventually cut my tongue off (laughs).

How tough was that?

You are asking a Bengali how tough it is to stay away from luchi, begun-bhaja, kosha mangsho, mishti doi, rosogolla, and a whole lot of delicacies. It was extremely annoying at the outset. There was a conflict in my own mind. I brought in my own cook and slowly settled down.

My mom, however, was extremely upset with me.

Why?

A mother’s heart is never fulfilled till she sees her child eating everything on the plate. Initially, she served me all the delicacies, spicy, tasty. But she was quick to realise that all my sacrifices were turning out to be beneficial for me.

But being a mother she still asks – Rosogolla khabi (Will you have a rosogolla?). But she never forces me anymore. In fact, even my mom cooks a bit differently nowadays.

You are someone who has been equally successful at the club and international level. How do you balance it?

Club football and international football are two separate poles which are extreme apart from each other. Even while playing at the domestic level, you need to keep in mind the intensity and the skill level required at the international football. Every footballer needs to set that target to improve himself. Once we are able to do it collectively, the National team standard will automatically improve.

You have not been a first-choice since the 2019 Asian Cup? How are you adjusting to the role?

Competition has improved me as a player. Different coaches tend to plan and play football differently. As professional players it is our responsibility to adapt, and faster. I feel that I need to give to my coach a bit more. But this is an extremely healthy competition which we all relish. At the end of the day, we are all good friends who are working tirelessly for one objective – to see the Tricolour fluttering high.\

(AIFF Media)

Keep Reading
By
Features

Pritam Kotal lends a helping hand to Bangladesh striker Jibon

By
Indian National Team defender Pritam Kotal comes to the rescue of Bangladesh striker Jibon.

New Delhi: Many footballers face rather difficult times when they need to go under the knife to correct injuries sustained on the pitch. It is not only the physical recovery that they have to deal with, but they are also constantly mindful of the uncertainty of the recovery process, and how long it could take.

However, even in such trying times, the ‘Beautiful Game’ has its own way of bringing people together. Bangladesh National Football Team striker Nabib Newaj Jibon had come across the border to Kolkata for surgery earlier in April, only to find a guardian angel in someone who he barely knew prior to this trip to the ‘City of Joy.’

“I never really knew Pritam-da (Kotal, India National Team defender) personally, before this trip to Kolkata,” Jibon said. “Yes, I had heard about him. I have played against him for my National Team. But we were never properly acquainted.” In fact, it was one of Jibon’s teammates from the National Team, Raihan Hasan, who introduced the Bangladesh striker with the Blue Tigers defender.

“I’ve been well acquainted with Mamunul-bhai (Islam) and Raihan. In fact, it was Raihan, who took a lot of initiative and approached me about Jibon. I was told that he was coming to Kolkata, and requested me to look after him during his stay here,” said Pritam.

Pritam instantly agreed to help out his fellow footballer from across the border.

“Of course, if someone comes across the border, we need to take care of him. We may be from different countries, but at the end of the day we are all from the footballing community, and we need to take care of each other,” said Pritam. “He’s like a brother from across the border.”

Once Jibon was in Kolkata, he had set up at a hotel that was quite close to Pritam’s house, and the latter, along with his girlfriend Sonela Paul left no stone unturned to help Jibon.

“Pritam-da and Sonela-di both provided so much support when I was there in Kolkata,” Jibon mentioned. “The main thing that they provided me was the mental support. That was very important — especially because I was in a city where I did not know anybody.”

“They used to visit me every day at the hospital, and at my hotel. I could not move around much after my surgery. But they would often come around and get different things for me – whatever I’d require. They’d even check on whether I’ve had my meals properly every day, and that meant a lot,” Jibon continued.

While Pritam could not go visit Jibon towards the end of the latter’s stay due to certain COVID-safety protocols in his locality, it was Sonela who stepped up and made sure that the Bangladesh striker was able to get back across the border, despite the fact that his flight was canceled.

Pritam sent his driver and his car along with Sonela, to pick up Jibon and take him all the way to the India-Bangladesh border in Benapole, near the town of Bongaon.

“We also contacted the Petrapole immigration authorities and, got permission from them. The BSF at Benapol also helped a lot. They reached in the morning, but there was a long wait till the evening, and finally, he was allowed to cross the border,” said Pritam.

“There were some difficulties, but the good thing is that the surgery was successful and that he was able to get back across the border without much hassle.”

Jibon’s club Basundhara Kings are set to play against Pritam’s side ATK Mohun Bagan in the AFC Cup in May, whereas Bangladesh is set to play India in the World Cup Qualifier in Qatar, later this year. While the now recovering Jibon may be out of contention for both the matches, the two footballers who had forged a strong friendship in this short period of time, are looking forward to facing each other on the pitch once again.

“Since his operation was successful, I’d very much like to see him return to the pitch soon. Even if he can’t return in time for the AFC Cup matches, it’s not that big a deal. I just hope that he gets well soon and can return to the pitch. It will be great to play against him. I pray to God for his speedy recovery,” said Pritam.

(AIFF Media)

Keep Reading
By