Rising up in Mumbai, Kolkata expertise, and extra

FC Goa’s newest signing Raynier Fernandes is an individual whose roots have performed a particular position in shaping his soccer profession. A real Mumbaikar at coronary heart, Fernandes has grown up loving, cherishing, and having fun with the attractive recreation within the alleys of a bustling and crowded Dadar.

A midfielder on the sector, his various vary of expertise is all due to his soccer outings on the close by Parish church the place Raynier performed along with his childhood mates.

“Once we have been children we simply needed to go on the market and play (soccer) however there’s no correct floor. The one factor we had this was (factors to it) Parish, have an excellent time to play no matter you need, and we used to utilize it,” he revealed throughout an interview as a part of the In The Stands present hosted by Suyash Upadhyaya the place he tries to discover concerning the lifetime of footballers past the footballing pitch.

In his childhood, Raynier preferred tips and expertise a lot that he was referred to as the ‘Ronaldinho’ of his group. Raynier made a reputation for himself as a charismatic determine spewing magic with a ball at his ft.

“There was an article in my faculty. So, I did a ability which I usually don’t do in a match, and after the ability, I gave an help. It was such an excellent ability that the following day it got here within the newspaper with a headline involving Ronaldinho’s title, extra like a humorous gag somewhat than an insult,” he mentioned.

The 27-year-old participant has been taking part in professionally for a very long time. Starting his skilled profession with then membership Air India, the midfielder additionally represented Maharashtra within the Santosh Trophy earlier than making a giant transfer to Mohun Bagan. 

Taking part in in Kolkata, nonetheless, is daunting, intimidating, and is without doubt one of the most tough duties as a participant particularly within the Kolkata derby towards East Bengal FC. There’s heightened pressure if you find yourself donning the legacy-driven jersey of Mohun Bagan which spans over 130 years. 

Whereas many gamers have performed in entrance of a jam-packed Salt Lake Stadium, not everybody has been capable of carry out absolutely at their greatest. Raynier, in the meantime, had an unprecedented expertise that additional formed his footballing life. 

“It was one thing that I’d by no means imagined. The expertise I had again then, the issues that I noticed, the followers that I met, it was one thing that I had by no means imagined in my life again then. You understand how they are saying in case you can play there, you possibly can play wherever in India as a result of the fan craze, the extent of soccer, all the pieces is so excessive over there, it will get very tough. Someway for me, it went so nicely,” he expressed.

“First yr, I didn’t have one of the best yr as a result of I didn’t get many probabilities however within the second yr, I performed 85-90% of the sport, I gave an help within the Derby. It was the primary time I performed in entrance of a 60,000-70,000 crowd, it was so good and we received the sport. And once you win a derby, it feels such as you’re on high of the world. It was an expertise I’ll by no means ever overlook,” he added.  

Having received the enduring ISL double (ISL title and the League Winners’ Defend) with Mumbai Metropolis FC, the midfielder reminisces about his time with the Islanders after just lately turning up for Odisha FC within the 2022-23 season on mortgage. 

“They love you as an individual and all the pieces, and once they have been there, I went to see the semi-final recreation of Mumbai Metropolis FC vs Bengaluru FC. After that, once I was strolling again, the way in which they have been taking footage, the way in which they have been speaking to me, it felt like dwelling as a result of Mumbai is my dwelling,” he concluded.