Soham Bhagawati hopes to earn international call-up during Spanish spell, aims to make debut in India Football News

Soham Bhagawati grew up in a sports-loving family and his journey into football began at a very young age. Born in Guwahati and raised in Dubai, he grew up with a sporting influence: his father was a tennis player and his grandfather was a footballer. This unwavering family support helped transform a childhood passion into a serious professional pursuit. The young footballer is now based in Spain and is steadily on the road to making his debut in India.Soham moved to Spain about two and a half years ago to improve his football skills and gain a higher level of exposure. In the meantime, he is continuing his studies and pursuing a degree in sports management, which will help him learn more about the sport on and off the field.

In 2020, Soham was called up for trials with the India Under-19 national team, which was a major milestone in his career. He considers donning the India jersey a major achievement and proud moment, further motivating him to push himself.The 22-year-old currently plays for Terrassa FC, representing the club’s B team in the Catalan second division and the senior team in Spain’s fourth tier.He said Spanish football has helped him grow both technically and mentally, and that the competitive environment has been a valuable learning experience.Soham counts Brazilian star Neymar as an early inspiration. However, as time went on and he learned more about the game, he felt that each player brought something different to the game. Today, instead of idolizing one person, Soham believes everyone has something to learn and focuses on improving by taking lessons from all the players he watches and plays with.Soham from Indian Football calls Sunil Chhetri a ‘king’ and draws inspiration from his achievements and leadership. He loves FC Barcelona and Argentina’s Boca Juniors and he dreams of one day representing a club of similar status through hard work and dedication.

He hopes to one day play for his favorite ISL club NorthEast United FC. However, for now his focus is on gaining experience and improving his game.Soham believes the difference between Indian and Spanish players is not talent but exposure, which sets them apart. However, he feels that the standard of India’s young players is steadily improving.“India has talented players and improving facilities, especially with ISL clubs now providing strong infrastructure. However, football does not receive the same level of investment and attention as other sports, which is limiting growth. Exposure to a competitive environment remains the biggest gap,” Soham said in an exclusive interview with TimesofIndia.com.Soham emphasized the importance of the Indian Football League for Indian football. He said this not only provides young players with much-needed exposure and professional experience, but also allows fans to stay connected to the sport.“In recent years, the Indian Football League is the main league that people associate with Indian football. Without it, the sport would have lost its popularity and structure. It is good that players are back on the field despite changes in the format and wages – the game is the most important thing for footballers,” he added.Soham’s short-term goal is to break into the club’s first team, while his long-term goal is to play at a higher professional level in Spain. Representing India at the senior level remains a clear dream – something he believes is achievable through consistent hard work, dedication and belief in his abilities.

“It is everyone’s dream to represent India at the senior level. For me, if I keep working hard, this dream will come true soon.” Let’s see – it takes work but if it happens it will be a proud moment,” Soham added.Soham is optimistic about the future of Indian football. He believes that with the right focus and commitment, India has the potential to qualify for the World Cup.“We already have top players like Sandesh Jhingan, Lallianzuala Chhangte. If we focus and give our best, I believe we can achieve this in the next few years,” he said.Outside of football, Soham has deep spiritual beliefs and believes his faith keeps him grounded.“I pray and look to God every day for the opportunities He has given us. We are truly blessed with everything we have. There will be hard times, but they will pass. The key is to stay positive, focus on the right things, and always be happy and smile,” he said.