It is the story of an 18-year-old towering goalkeeper standing at an impressive 6 feet 2 inches, has stolen the headlines of Indian media recently after a courageous decision to turn down an offer from an ISL team and driven himself to a journey to Europe to hone his football skills and pursue his dreams on a bigger stage. 

He is Som Kumar, born and raised in a sports-centric household in Bengaluru. Som’s parents, Vivek Kumar and Shama Kittur, were former national-level badminton players. But young Som fell in love with football at the tender age of two. Now, after 16 years of dedication and hard work, he is making a name for himself in the Slovenia football league. 

Currently, Som is a vital member of the first team at NK Olympija Ljubljana (NKOL), a prominent Slovenian club. He initially joined the club’s youth team and swiftly showcased his talent in five matches for the U-19 side, leading to a well-deserved promotion to the senior squad.

As one of the youngest players in the senior team, Som acknowledges the challenge of competing with older and more experienced athletes. However, he embraces this opportunity and asserts that he is well-prepared to face the trials that come with it.

Som’s breakthrough moment came when he represented India in the SAFF under-20 Championship in Bhubaneswar, where the team secured victory. His exceptional performance between the posts earned him the best goalkeeper award in the tournament. 

Speaking to Times of India, Som explained the reason behind selecting Slovenia as the destination to pursue his football dreams. He said, "The country has a reputation for producing top-quality goalkeepers. With renowned talents like Jan Oblak and Samir Handanovic hailing from Slovenia, my parents believed it was an ideal place for me to excel in this position."

Moving to Europe in 2021 was not easy for the young goalkeeper. Leaving the comfort of home behind, Som had to adapt to a new environment, learn the local language, take on the responsibilities of cooking for himself, and become independent. 

He looks up to Manchester City’s Ederson as his role model and draws inspiration from the Brazilian goalkeeper’s playing style and success. While his ultimate goal is to play in the top European leagues, he remains grounded by setting short-term objectives, focusing on improving his weaknesses and striving for continuous progress.