Stuck in Kolkata, heart in TN: How ATK footballer is beating lockdown blues

Craving for native Tamil delicacies has turned ATK’s emerging football star, Michael Soosairaj, into a chef. Locked in a flat at Kolkata’s Salt Lake, the footballer has had enough prawn curries, chicken masalas and even macher jhol (Bengali fish curry). If not an elaborate sappadu (a typical Tamil meal), at least a scrumptious sambar soru (rice cooked with lentils, vegetables mixed with tamarind juice) is long overdue.

According to the midfielder, the problem is that his culinary skills need to be worked upon seriously. “I had never tried cooking,” he added, understandably so when it comes from the youngest of the six siblings.

The Soosairaj family is now catering to the Tamil taste buds of one of their youngest members through inter-state culinary coaching. The 26-year old is taking gastronomy lessons from sisters and sisters-in-law through video calls and WhatsApp messages, as seriously as he takes tips from Antonio López Habas, the ATK’s Spanish coach.

Habas, of course, will have no room for complaint if he bumps into the former Chennai City winger-turned-wingback. Soosairaj is keeping himself fit for playing. “Cooking and exercise is keeping me busy in this otherwise sedentary period,” he said.

But how did he get stuck in Kolkata? After lifting the ISL trophy in Goa on March 14, the ATK team returned to the home city to celebrate their triumph. After celebrations, when other members of the team, including his elder brother M Regin, left for home, Soosairaj stayed back to explore the ‘City of Joy.’

“Kerala and Kolkata are two places known for football crazy fans. So, for any footballer, it is but natural to get intrigued by the city. It is my first season with the ATK and I thought it will be worth staying back here for about a week to visit places and get acclimatized with the city,” Soosairaj told The Federal.

Little did he know that soon he would be forced to confine himself within the four walls of his flat, which the ATK provided him and his brother. A nationwide lockdown was implemented from the midnight of March 24.

The confinement is however not preventing him from reaching out to the fishermen community of his native Eraviputhenthurai village in Kanyakumari district, who are in distress, a national daily recently reported from Chennai.

“The fishermen community are unable to venture into the sea, which has taken a toll on their income. With the help of my friend and the priest of the local church, I am trying to send them some relief,” he told The Federal, with a request not to highlight it. “It’s not good to talk about it if you help somebody,” he added.

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On his future plans, Soosairaj said he was looking forward to don Mohun Bagan’s iconic green-and-maroon jersey next season. The Mohun Bagan, which was established in 1889, had merged with the ATK earlier this year.

“I will be proud to be part of this historic club. I am really excited about the new arrangement,” said Soosairaj, who has two more years of contract with the ATK.

The next season, however, looks like a distant future. His immediate concern is to reach home.

“I am stuck in this new city for over a month now. I am missing my family and friends,” he said.