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In an exclusive interaction with News18 Sports, Nihal shared a glimpse behind the curtains on how the beautiful game found him and how it instilled his never-ending desire to play till the very end.
Nihal Sudeesh in action for Punjab FC in the ISL (X)
From the sidelines to the limelight, from the quaint shores of Kochi to the boisterous streets of Delhi, 23-year-old winger Nihal Sudeesh has not been one to shy away from the challenge.
Nihal, whom Punjab FC signed in the past summer on loan from his beloved Kerala Blasters FC, has indubitably lit up the skies and the right wing of the Shers’ attack. Having registered a goal and an assist each in his eight games this season so far, the young Keralite’s tale has been one that resonates with all of us fans of the beautiful game.
In an exclusive interaction with News18 Sports, Nihal shared a glimpse behind the curtains on how the beautiful game found him and how it instilled his never-ending desire to play till the very end.
Like many, Nihal couldn’t resist but chime in with the chants of one then-young Portuguese running down the wing in the famed flanks of Old Trafford as the crowds roared ‘Viva Ronaldo’
“My cousins used to show me clips of Cristiano Ronaldo from when he used to play for Manchester United. He was just phenomenal. I mean, he just glided down the wings and scored effortlessly at will. I just loved his style, his game, and his charisma,” Nihal reminisced with nostalgia.
From the soulful chants of Old Trafford, it was then the unmistakably unforgettable clamor of the vuvuzela, which had him hooked to the beautiful game.
“The 2010 World Cup was when I fell in love with the game of football. Everything about the tournament, the craze surrounding it, and the unforgettable music, all acted as inspiration for me to want to take up the game. My father himself got me jerseys and footballs as I went out and just played without any inhibitions in my mind with my friends in the countryside,” recalled Nihal.
“It was love at first kick.”
Hailing from God’s Own Country where the game of football and its legends alike are worshipped, Nihal was never too far away from the raucous sounds and the adrenaline of the game. And once, a young Nihal caught a whiff of the same, there was never any going back.
“Football reigns supreme in Kerala. Cricket is played everywhere, but football is king back home. Whether it be a local Sevens match to the Blasters playing in the ISL, the craze for football never wanes,” exclaimed the 23-year-old.
“Even now, when a match is set to take place in Kerala, I know people who travel from all over the state – from Mallapuram, Kochi, Trivandrum and all over – to just watch the game. I still get so many encouraging and congratulatory messages from my people back home in Kerala whenever I play a match anywhere.”
And boy, does he play too. Nihal has brought a jolt of pace and energy to Panagiotis Dilmperis’ Punjab, who have stepped up to the mantle and taken the league by the scruff of its neck this season, as they stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
“I am glad to be recognized as a rising young talent, but there is a lot of football left to be played throughout the season. So, I am just focused on being consistent and performing to my fullest whilst gaining experience. That’s where my head is at.”
But, it wasn’t always the case for the young Keralite. There comes a point, like it does in many of our lives, where we sit down to realise and recognize whether our interest can blossom into passions that shall define our path in life. For Nihal, the choice was made easier when the ISL came into the picture.
“If you ask me when it clicked in my mind that I wanted to become a professional footballer, then I would say that the advent of the ISL was the turning point. I used to watch Kerala Blasters live in the stadium back home when the league started in 2014. Then, it turned into a want: a want to represent the club from my home state. I knew I wanted to do so and that I could do so if I put my mind to it,” Nihal exclaimed.
In a fortuitous turn of fate, Nihal’s dreams would blossom into reality, as he went from picking up the balls on the sidelines, to being the one drilling in crosses from within the lines for his one beloved Kerala Blasters.
“Getting that call-up to the first team of Kerala Blasters is an unforgettable memory for me. To have gone from being in the crowds, watching them play to getting the opportunity to play for them, it really was surreal. I got goosebumps when Coach (Ivan Vukomanovic) welcomed me to the squad filled with players such as Luna. To have gotten the opportunity to share the pitch and time off it as well with all the players there, it was one of my dreams coming true,” the young winger remarked with a gleam of pride in his voice.
But, fate has a cruel way of panning out. And for Nihal, his forlorn dream of staying in the comforts and luxuries of home came at the price of him never getting enough opportunities to play his game, being exalted to the sidelines more often than less.
So, his initial dreams of home to a halting stop in the summer of 2024, when the young winger opted to step out and take his chances elsewhere to grow his skillset and reach the next level.
Kerala Blasters obliged, allowing the youngster to go on loan to Punjab FC, to Delhi which he now calls his new home.
“Initially, I wasn’t ready to move away from home because I had never left it. But after talking to the sporting directors here in Punjab and most importantly my parents, who backed me all the way, I felt confident in taking the step to leave Kerala and come here.”
“To move here to Punjab meant that I had to leave all my comforts behind. The thought of losing it all scared me. The idea of having to explore newer pastures, to come to terms with the reality that nothing would be familiar for me now – from the actual landscape to the language, to the players –made me feel apprehensive initially,” expressed a vulnerable Nihal.
“But, one thing was constant in my mind. It was that I wanted to become a starting XI option. The itch to play more, score more, assist more, and just become better is what drove me to take the leap of faith and embrace change.”
Nihal sure has done the same with Punjab FC, as he continues to glide through the wings with blistering pace and menacing dribbles, perhaps even a bit to the likes of his idol.
Under the tutelage of Greek manager Dilimperis, the young winger has found a renewed lease of life which the Keralite has been grateful for.
‘Coach (Dilimperis) has been incredibly supportive here. As wingers, we are meant to be fearless and take brave chances on the pitch. By allowing me to spread my wings, play my game and express myself, he helped me to become brave on and off the field inherently.”
“I believe I can contribute to every match. I can score, and assist as well. I feel I can bring a lot of value to the team consistently. That is what I am aiming for right now, to be the best version of myself and to keep expanding my game,” Nihal exclaimed.
