I have had a very good run at the ISL this year and can term it as one of the best years of my career. We reached the AFC final as well as the ISL finals. Though we lost the finals, it was still a good year for me; I could score goals and though not completely satisfied, I am happy!
I was born in a village in Kannur and am now a part of the Bangalore FC Club. I am on loan to the Kerala Blasters team. Football has always been a very integral part of the Malayali’s love for sports and I cannot say that ISL put the spotlight back on football again. Football has always been very popular in Kerala, especially the Malabar region, but it did slip into a brief slumber. There are still spectators for local matches and tournaments held in various districts of the state. ISL served the purpose of infusing fresh interest and enthusiasm into the game through the well-oiled marketing and publicity machinery ensuring that the magic of ISL reach deep into even the remotest corners of Kerala. What I am happy is that women, including housewives who are fond of their TV sops, kept aside their serials and watched the matches.
The adulation I got is all thanks to the Kerala Blasters team. I did not do anything by myself and am a part of a team that worked together like a well oiled machine. I remember for the match against Pune, a fan came to see me at my hotel all the way from Kollam. The security people did not let him in but one of my friends saw him and took him to the reception to see me. As soon as the fan saw me, he fell at my feet; a lot of emotions passed through me. People are calling me for functions and I am getting a lot of messages and I am really happy that football has given me all this good fortune that I had never dreamt about.
Clear goal
Born in Kannur, Vineeth made his debut for Chirag United Kerala in the I-league during the 2010-11 season after starting his amateur career with Chennai Customs and Kerala State Electricity Board teams. Later, Vineeth signed in for United SC of the I-League. After that he was drafted in for Bengaluru FC of which he is still contracted to. In July 2015, Vineeth played for Kerala Blasters FC in the 2015 Indian Super League and scored some impressive goals.
