Shopian boy joins homegrown Real Kashmir Football Club

SRINAGAR — Twenty-year-old Sanan Iqbal of Shopian became the first goalkeeper from south Kashmir who was selected for homegrown Real Kashmir (FC) Football Club recently.

Hailing from Bungam area of Shopian, Sannan Iqbal known for his abilities and maneuvers is an emerging goalkeeper and has become an icon among aspiring footballers. “My father died due to brief illness which effected my career but my uncle & mother stood by me. They encouraged and supported me to play this game,” Iqbal said.

He had his basic schooling from Greenland School Shopian and later joined Iqbal institute of Technology & Management in Srinagar to pursue Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. “My tryst with football started in Class 8th. Since then, I am playing,” Sannan said.

He has played for football clubs in Shopian. In 2014, a police football tournament was organised were he was adjudged as man of the match as an able and meticulous goalkeeper.

“I represented J&K State as goalkeeper in Jammu at GMC Science College on February 25 this year,” Sannan said.

Sannan believes better infrastructure at the grassroot level would help in honing skills of aspiring footballers.