![After Sahil Harijon, a new gift from United Sports to Bengal football](https://parallelsports.in/images/upload/cover/1721629484.jpg)
The 21-year-old Sujal is also highly inspired by Sahil’s quality and performance.
He was 13 years old at that time. Despite the passion for football he was not encouraged to play the game. Still, he started learning the basics at a local academy, situated nine kilometres from his home in Jaigaon, Aliporeduar district.
He did not get the passage fare. So, Sujal Munda used to reach the Dalsingpara Football Academy by running and return home also by running nine kilometres every day!
Today, after eight long years Sujal Munda, remembering those days smilingly said, "Every day running nine kilometres up-and-down was the first source of generating my speed! I am getting the benefit today on the pitch.”
Sujal has already scored four goals for United Sports in the ongoing CFL Premier Division. Especially, his second goal against Mohammedan Sporting on 20th July drew the attention of the Kolkata football fraternity.
A 20-yard left-footed low drive from the middle had such a precision that it was not possible for the Mohammedan Sporting custodian to reach the shot despite offering a full-length dive to his right and the ball kissed the post before entering nets, reminding Lamine Yamal’s wonder goal against France in the recently-concluded Euro Cup final.
Former India internationals Manas Bhattacharya and Gautam Sarkar were mesmerized by Sujal's strike and excellent speed, both with and off the ball. United Sports director Nabab Bhattacharya termed Sujal as an 'uncut diamond'.
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The team’s Belgian coach Steve Herbots also had some praise for him stating, “He has the thirst to improve every day. He is no doubt promising. He needs time to develop his basics. Then he will be able to maintain the consistency.”
Sujal Munda can be called ‘a new gift’ from United Sports to Bengal football after Sahil Harijan.
The 21-year-old Sujal is also highly inspired by Sahil’s quality and performance. “What an excellent performance he had last year! He became my inspiration. While watching him I thought I would also have to be consistent as he is.”
But interestingly, Sujal had none of the qualities which were impressive. He did not have the basic skill of ball control or, the ability to send correct passes. Even he was noticeably 'slow' with and off the ball earlier. “I had to face taunts from almost everybody in my surroundings. They said I could not settle as a professional footballer.”
In a bid to gain fitness Sujal had gone through a lot of hard work. He often had gone to Bhutan's hilly region for sprint-running and other fitness training.
Even Sujal revealed, "I regularly practice these low drives in the training under careful observation of Steve Herbots. I was practising with my right foot earlier. Now Steve sir has asked me to practice on the left foot and I also score goals in the practice."
He simultaneously paid gratitude to his first coach Bimal Mukhiya at Dalsingpara Academy. "He taught me the basics of the game. He also encouraged me a lot. Even he presented me the my first pair of Snickers and boots. I used to run nine kilometres up-and-down from my home wearing those snickers," added Sujal.
Sujal has a father who works as a driver in a private company. He also has an elder brother who is a music teacher along with a sister and mother. His family which was against his dream of becoming a professional footballer now is happy. “Now they support me, ask me to concentrate on the game,” revealed Sujal.
An ardent fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, Sujal lives in Kalyani, mentioned Nabab Bhattacharya’s name stating, “He is so caring that I never feel that I am far from my family members.”
Sujal's immediate aim is to start in the forthcoming matches for United Sports. Simultaneously, he dreams of wearing Bengal shirts and getting a job to contribute to his family.
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