From I-League to ISL, Soosai’s dream comes true

“I am happy to sign a deal with JFC. I always had the desire to play in ISL. This is what every footballer dreams of, playing at the highest level,” said Soosairaj in a cheerful tone. When queried about what lured him to complete the deal, he said, “I felt ISL was more popular than the I-League because of the number of top profile coaches. 

Playing in it presents me an opportunity to impress the selectors and the national coach.” There were rumours that the Chennai City midfielder was on the radar of a few ISL teams apart from debutant JFC. 

Commenting on it, the 23-year-old asserted, “Yes, I was contacted by three other ISL clubs as well. But, Jamshedpur had shown interest in me since the start of the league season.” 

When the local lad had a hitch in selecting the side he would go onto represent in ISL 5, it was his siblings who persuaded him to sign for the Steve Coppell-led unit. “I consulted with my brothers, Anto and Edwin. We discussed it and they insisted that I join JFC as the team had been in constant touch from the beginning. I then sat down with my (CCFC) owner Rohit Ramesh, who was fine with releasing me,” added the midfielder. 

Soosairaj will bid adieu to his current employer, CCFC, after the conclusion of the upcoming Super Cup. He is looking forward to firing on all cylinders in the knockout event. 

“I am gearing up to deliver my best as this will be my last tournament with CCFC before joining JFC. It would be great if we get to meet our local rivals Chennaiyin FC during any stage,” he remarked. 

When asked if he gets time to catch the ISL live on television during his off days, Soosairaj said, “I do watch games of FC Goa and Bengaluru FC whenever I am free. I also follow games of Delhi Dynamos FC in which my good friend Nandakumar Sekar plays. If he is not in the match, I don’t watch  it (laughs).”