Get the Tendulkar factor in Kochi footballer Duleep Menon

Duleep Menon was a little-known footballer, till Sachin Tendulkar picked him for his ISL team. But the 27-year-old is keeping his feet on the ground.

Get the Tendulkar factor in Kochi footballer Duleep Menon
Before the Indian Super League (ISL) kicks off this weekend, ETPanache talks to Duleep Menon, Kerala Blaster's latest find who comes personally recommended by none other than franchise co-owner Sachin Tendulkar.

The 27-year-old from Kochi lets his guard down talking about how he wants to do nothing but be associated with football all his life.

Stepping Stones

I have lived in Kochi for a while now. My father is a doctor and my mother an engineer. I am an electronics engineer myself. My interest in football began with the game FIFA 98 by EA Sports, which was gifted by my uncle. I started emulating all the things that I did with the keyboard in real life. Among my favourite players are Zinedine Zidane and Diego Maradona.

Sachin the mentor

Being recommended by Sachin Tendulkar was unexpected. I was overwhelmed and couldn't stop grinning. When I joined the team Sachin said I must keep trying and not give up on my dreams. That is something I will never forget.
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(In photo: Duleep Menon with Sachin Tendulkar)
English Experience

I played professional football in Kerala before moving to England for three years in 2010. It changed my game entirely. Be it physicality, tackling, passing or movement — my attitude towards the game changed playing for Salford City FC and other clubs there.

Handling sudden spotlight
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One thing I have learnt playing football is that there is no need for a player to hope for extremely good things to happen. I have always hoped for the best and prepared for the worst.

Off the pitch
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I enjoy watching movies and listening to progressive hip-hop and trance music. Mohanlal, Shobhana and Leonardo DiCaprio are my favourite actors. I am an engineer just on paper. I don't know anything about it and am far from being a tech geek. I use a Xiaomi MI3 phone that I quite enjoy. The specifications are fantastic at a fraction of a price of a Samsung or an Apple.
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