When asked about his sister, Subrata Murmu sounds jubilant, expressing all his wishes to Moushumi Murmu who is currently in Sharjah with the senior Indian women’s team to take part in the Ladies Pink Cup. 

But when asked about his career, the 22-year-old striker sounds quite depressed. He is aware that his football journey began with glare, representing United Sports for four seasons, playing for Bengal in the National Games in 2022 and finally signing a three-year contract with East Bengal last year. Even his inspiring show in mainstream football helped him to get a job at Central Railways.

Subrata however often makes the same statement on getting his job, “It was Nabab sir's initiative. Otherwise, I would not have obtained the Railway job. I am indebted to him forever.” 

But since he was shifted to Jabalpur for his job in September 2023, Subrata has been far from India's mainstream football. Apart, two more former United SC footballers Raja Burman and Dipak Rajak have also joined Central Railways and posted at Jabalpur.

Subrata speaking over the phone from Jabalpur said, "I know I have moved a lot from the mainstream of Indian football. But I cannot resign from the job. It gives the bread-and-butter to my family.”

Subrata has taken part in the last Santosh Trophy for Indian Railways. This apart he nowadays can get chance of participating only in the Inter-Railways tournament. 

The striker stated while talking about his future plans last year that his sole aim is to don India shirts. 

"Now it seems too far. I dreamed of establishing my career as a professional footballer, playing in the elite I-League and the ISL. But staying at Jabalpur and playing in the office football cannot fulfill my dream at all," Subrata lamented.

But he is not giving up. Rather the striker is planning to come to Kolkata to play in the CFL Premier Division this season for East Bengal on a 'without pay'. "I played last season also on 'without pay'. The office was cooperative. I am optimistic that my bosses at the office will also allow me to come to Kolkata and play in the CFL this season for East Bengal," added Subrata.

The lanky striker impressed even Carlos Cuadrat with his goal and exuberance in East Bengal's opening match of the CFL Premier Division last season, obtaining the opportunity to take part in 5-6 matches. 

Accompanied by Raja, Deepak and a few other office-team footballers Subrata continues intense training at the office ground. “We practice for a couple of hours in the morning and after completing the duty, we again do training in the evening for a couple of hours, till 7.30-8 pm in the night. We request the authority to switch on the floodlights for our training,” revealed Subrata. 

Simultaneously, he explained, "I try to sharpen individual skills like sprinting, shooting, off-the-ball sprints which I learned during my playing days at United Sports under Steve Herbots and later under the guidance of Carlos Cuadrat at East Bengal. Carlos inspired me often during my short training stint with the senior team at that time, and taught me some crucial basics of the game. Now it is helping me."