Shubhodip Sardar is a ‘new kid on the block’ in Bengal football. The lanky striker from Basanti, South 24 Parganas finished as the top scorer scoring five goals in the recently-concluded B.C Roy Trophy, junior national championship in Chhattisgarh. 

It was Sardar’s maiden appearance in a national championship. Previously, in the under-17 Inter-district league also Shubhodip scored goals galore. 

Despite the appreciation from his coach, Falguni Dutta, and others from the football fraternity, Shubhodip seemed not to have been complacent. Returning home on Thursday after almost three weeks Shubhodip resumed training on Friday morning, traveling an almost three-hour train journey to Durbar Academy in Baruipur, under his first coach Ali Reza’s observation. 

From there, the striker got selected at Bengal Football Academy in North 24 Paraganas, run by the state sports ministry.

Shubhodip hails from a village named North Bottola, Basanti in the Sundarban area. 

His father Dilip Sardar earns from cultivation and selling vegetables in the local market. Dilip Sardar was passionate about football at a young age. "I used to play in my area. Due to the financial crisis, I could not continue even though I had dreams of playing in Kolkata, for the big teams. That is why I encouraged my son when I found he was passionate about football since his childhood."

Dilip Sardar's everyday schedule is too hectic. He goes out of home from 3 to 3.30 am to the market to sell vegetables before returning to his cultivation field. Amidst the schedule, Dilip Sardar used to take his son to Durbar Academy in Baruipur every day, traveling almost three-hour journey for three consecutive years. Shubhodip learned the basics of the game from Ali Reza who once played for Kolkata’s three big teams. 

Shubhodip's father is undoubtedly happy with his son's success. "Today I feel my hard work for him in his childhood has given me something back at least. But at the same time, I have cautioned him not to be self-satisfied with his performance in the junior national championship. He has promised me to fulfill my dream that he would be playing for Mohun Bagan one day."

Shubhodip was selected by the ATK Mohun Bagan to take part in the under-15 I-league. But the Youth League was canceled in the last moment. 

It might be the reason Dilip Sardar desires his son to don Mohun Bagan shirts.