He cannot remember the place where he went to take part in a tournament representing Mohun Bagan-SAIL Academy seven years ago. He managed to remember, it was somewhere in the country’s North East and Jo Paul Anrchery was the academy's coach at that time.

He has the only memory of a ‘hundred-rupee’ note. After being chosen ‘player of the tournament’ a poor man came to him and presented him a ‘hundred-rupee note’ with blessing and said, ‘I do not have much to give you. But I was so impressed by your performance that I gave my all to you out of passion!’

Today after seven long years, even after having several rewards in his kitty including the ISL Shield this season for Mohun Bagan Super Giants, Deepak Tangry has not forgotten the moment. It is one of the most memorable rewards in his football journey so far. 

Speaking to Parallel Sports, the 25-year-old defensive midfielder recalled, “The hundred-rupee note which the old man gave me, preserved for food on the day. He did not have anything more and he gave it to me. How can I forget this?” 

Deepak Tangri is one of the Indian football’s rare characters. He still has not forgotten Douglas Silva, his Brazilian coach at Mohun Bagan-SAIL academy. Even today, he often takes advice from the former central defender of East Bengal and Mohun Bagan. 

Douglas still holds a unique record of never losing a derby either for East Bengal or Mohun Bagan during his seven-year glittering career with the city’s two giants.

Deepak revealed, "I learned a lot from Douglas, sir. The modern style of football that I practice nowadays playing for the national team or in MBSG originated by Douglas Sir in the academy. Additionally, he inspired me a lot, and often encouraged me saying that one day I will play for India." 

Deepak could have settled his career as a cricketer also as his father, a cloth merchant was a cricketer. “Still I used to play football in the school. While playing with friends one day, I made a correct sliding tackle without knowing anything about the technique. Then the school teacher encouraged me to continue playing football.”

He was ruled out of the pitch due to surgery for eight months. Deepak admitted that the eight months were very difficult and challenging. Still, he overcame with determination and indomitable mental strength. He did not miss a single day of rehab during the eight months in Bangalore. 

Commenting on MBSG’s ISL Shield triumph, Tangri, like his teammates, also admitted, “Habas was able to induce the belief among us that we would be able to overcome the crisis which we had to face in the first phase of the ISL before playing in Super Cup.” 

The midfielder dreams of taking his game to the level where the respective coaches of club and national team do not think of excluding me from the team.”