Indian goalkeeper Karkera takes inspiration from the life of a 1971 war hero

WHENEVER Suraj Karkera feels a little low, he turns to his book shelf for inspiration. He frequently reads biographies—'Invictus: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation' is a favourite—for motivation. One such autobiography moved him to such an extent he was compelled to meet and talk to the author, Ian Cardozo, a decorated Army Major who played a big role in the 1971 War against Pakistan.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Bhubaneswar

This was around the time when Karkera had lost his place in the side. These days, Karkera is battling with Krishan Pathak to be the No. 1 custodian for the national team. A couple of years ago, when PR Sreejesh was the numero uno, Karkera, after making his senior debut in 2017, was out of the picture.

The life of a reserve goalkeeper can be a tough gig and Karkera knew he had to be patient, show some resilience. One day, he chanced upon '1971: Stories of Grit and Glory From the Indo-Pak War'. After reading it, he got in touch with Cardozo and requested a meeting.