He’s known as Neymar in the Indian football circuit. He has been doing wonders from a very early age and he is the youngest player to sign a contract with an ISL club at the age of 16 .
Recently, we caught up with Odisha FC’s latest recruit and India’s hot prospect Baoringdao Bodo. And here’s how he counter attacked our questions.
Q. How did you start your footballing career?
Bodo : It all began at school, I use play with my mates at school and the playground was near my place so I use to train there after school. Then, my father enrolled me in SAI Guwahati for better Football training and that is where my actual journey started.
I became very serious regarding Football and I kept working hard. I represented the youth teams of Assam. I was selected for India Camp U14 and was selected to join the AIFF regional academy in Kalyani, Kolkata and I represented India U14, U16, U17, U18 and we even won the SAFF U-16 Championship.
Then I was promoted to the AIFF elite academy in Goa. I represented India U19 in the Junior iLeague, IFA shield and also the Subroto Cup.
Q. Who inspired you the most?
Bodo : I have learnt alot of things from alot of struggling and hard working footballers.
Q. Did you get full support from family when you started?
Bodo : Yes, ofcourse my family has always supported me through my ups and downs. We are 4 brothers and my elder brothers were more into studies than Football and one of my brother was into music and I was always into football and that’s the reason my father enrolled me in SAI Guwahati.
Q. What was the feeling when you signed your first professional contract with Chennaiyin FC ?
Bodo : I was proud of myself because I earned it but at the same time I knew I have to work even harder now because before that I was playing for the youth teams and suddenly signing for such a big club came in as a big challenge for me. Even though I was on the bench for Chennaiyin but I learnt alot from all the senior team players.