Indian Soccer League: Chandigarh lanky forward signed up by John Abraham-owned club

For 22-year-old Chandigarh footballer Sumit Passi, it was seeing his father Jai Prakash Passi play for Railways on the national scene which motivated him to take up the sport. The junior Passi would soon join Chandigarh Football Academy, Sector 42, and went on to play in the I-League. On Wednesday, Sumit was signed up by John Abraham-owned North East United FC for the Indian Soccer League with four other players including national goal-keeper Subroto Paul. “Playing for North East United FC would be one of the biggest things in my career.

To play along with players like Subroto Paul in the club is like playing in a world cup for me. He has been a legend and I am also looking forward to playing with the club’s marquee player Portugese Simao Sabrosa. ISL has been a big step in Indian football and playing among such international players will boost my confidence,” said the forward, who graduated from the Chandigarh Football Academy in 2011 and whose father works with the Railways at Jagadhri.

A lanky forward, Sumit starred in Chandigarh’s wins in School Nationals at U-17 level played in Goa and Allahabad in 2008 and 2009 respectively before guiding Chandigarh to a historic BC Roy Trophy title win in Kolkata in 2010. Sumit played for Pallian Arrows in 2013 in I League before being signed up by Sporting Club De Goa in 2014. The youngster also played for Indian U-19 and U-23 teams before being named in the Indian senior side last year(SPORTS EXPRESS,2016).