Wadoo, Kashmir’s football Hero

The 31-year-old Kashmir footballer Mehrajuddin Wadoo, who hogged the limelight, is writing his own script on the football field. Kashmir athlete, who is living the football dream, had fought hard to eye the glory in football while having deep passion for it. Srinagar’s Amira Kadal, born lad had received his first cheque of Rs 5, 000 while playing for Jammu and Kashmir Police Football Team in his early days of football career. Now, he is followed by glamour and wealth.

The quality footballer’s whose net worth is around Rs 2.3 crore was motivated and backed by his family members to find the place in the local clubs – to give wings to his career when he was 14. There on, the breakthrough came, Wadoo moved to reputed clubs in India, with his footballing skills and expand the game of football alongside Ishfaq Ahmad, another sensational footballer from Kashmir, who played for Kerala Blasters, as a mid-fielder in the high-tech football tournament Indian Super League (ISL), in India this year.

Wadoo started his football career as a striker when he had played for Iqbal Sports Club in 1997, and emerged out as a best footballer in the Jammu and Kashmir State alongside Ishfaq Ahmad. Driven by the passion, he made his remarkable career in football, when cricket was considered as the dominating game in Kashmir region. The infrastructure was unavailable even when the equipments were considered inexpensive. The showstopper on football ground did his schooling at Mission School Rainawari, area of summer capital Srinagar, and later had joined Sri Pratap High School. And completed his Bachelor of Arts IInd year, from Amar Singh College and practiced for hours at the ground.

For the second edition of Indian Super League, Wadoo was picked by the new franchise Chennaiyin FC which recently stunned FC Goa 3-2 to emerge as the 2015 title winners of the Indian Hero Football League. He used his experience expertly in his 14 appearances for the side, to set an example for the raw talent back home.

Versatile Wadoo, from Kashmir to Chennai, has come a long way, was noticed from the club-leg for his on-field skills. With the shade of obsession Wadoo followed the relentless effort by becoming the centre of attention for all, in the football circles. He became the centre of attention when he was the member of J&K U21 team and after playing for J&K Police for a limited time, he took a leap for the ‘Big Three’ in Kolkata. 

The defender had played for FC Pune City last season, was overjoyed at signing the contract for Chennaiyin FC after almost notching berth for semi-final in the first edition of Hero ISL League. 

Earlier this year, Chennaiyin FC camp was organized in Perugia, Italy, where they had to practice under the tutelage of Marco Materazzi along with Brazilian ace Elano Blumer. The defender had praised Bernard Mendy's input to the defense line and has enjoined the new adventure.

The incredible rise in the footballer’s varied career took a leap when he started at the tender age of 9, playing day-long football. Wadoo, along his father, Mohammad Sultan Wadoo, who had represented J&K in Santosh Trophy and coached him to learn the niceties of the game. His father Sultan had decided to throw a football at his son when cricket was popular.

Energetic Wadoo, in his short stints with all obstacles thrown in his way took chances with highs and lows over the congealed maidans. Brimming with confidence and having the steel of will, he responded well when offered a golden chance during the trials back home. 

“It’s the proud moment for us all that Ishfaq and Mehraj are the international players and they are the role models in football like many. Both have become the icons for these youngsters whom you see playing around the Eidgarh, in the morning and evening,” Showkat Ahmad Masoodi, former footballer and Forest XI coach said.

Wadoo, who had joined Indian Super League (ISL), the premiere football hero League, for Pune FC in first ISL season and played with Bharat FC on loan in the I-League last year, entertained the fans back home. The footballers were glued to TV screens, to have the glimpse of a poster boy for football in valley, who either play with him or took a leap out of his coaching manual.

Wadoo had struggled in his young days when it was all challenging. The YouTube videos for sometime did a trick that came as an out of box idea, for a footballer, who played a vital role for Sporting Club Goa, to triumph Indian Football Association (IFA) Shield trophy after 44 years.

In Kashmir region, football is a promising sport alongside cricket and it pulls-out the decent crowd on off-days to the Bakshi Stadium and Polo Ground. Wadoo, who also runs under-16 football academy in Srinagar, was more inclined toward football. 

Wadoo, represented India for 31 occasions and had scored two decisive goals. The experienced campaigner has always been the man to watch out for at defense line. 

Mostly on Sunday evening, Wadoo along with Ashfaq Ahmad had enthralled the spectators with his football skills at Bhakshi Stadium, whenever they had played for their clubs. Toying with the opponents, with the experience Wadoo, had the right-way defending skills and in his early days he learned the nuances of the game. 

Dribbling, piercing out the defense with the marathon of a run on-field made him a standout performer for the teams he had played for back at home, during the past seasons. His ability to play across the backline made him stronger after being a long time mid-fielder and then returning as defender.

Wadoo, who improved with the every game, had played at different leagues starting with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in the 2002-2003, Indian Telephone Institute, Mohan Bhagan, East Bengal and Sporting Goa. He had easily converted into a long-time defender after playing as a mid-fielder.  Wadoo along with Ashfaq Ahmad are the two sensational footballers from the Jammu and Kashmir state to earn a professional contract at different levels for reputed clubs in India.

Wadoo was the part of the Indian football team that won Nehru Cup 2007, the AFC Challenge Cup 2008 and the Nehru Cup in 2009. His spirit didn’t let him down when he scored the thrilling goal against Bangladesh in December 2005, in South Association Football Federation Cup (SAFF), final at Karachi. 

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