KOZHIKODE: The success of C.K. Vineeth, who grew into a national-level footballer from a village that lacks even a proper ground for practising, could inspire the entire state. Presently a striker of Bengaluru FC in the I-League, he had played for the Kerala Blasters FC in the 2015 Indian Super League.
“Football is my passion," he says. “Hence, I am so happy that I could make it a career. So life is exciting now. It's a thrill to score the next goal every time.” Vineeth hails from Vengad, a small village in Kannur, which has no place for proper training for a footballer. However, the land is culturally rich and it supports talents who wish to grow.
His success has now given many aspirants in his village the confidence to follow their passion. He had completed his schooling at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya where he got a better opportunity to pursue his passion. “During our playtime, instead of cricket we always played football," he said.
After Class 10, he took football seriously and joined SAI (Sports Authority of India) in Kasargod. His coach Velayudhan C. K. had helped him a lot in developing his career. “In Kerala there are a lot of talented players, but actually, they are not getting enough exposure or support. That is why they follow other careers," he says.
“Even I might not have reached where I am now if I had not received an opportunity with Viva Kerala. Unless we play I-League here in Kerala, we won’t achieve much in football.” His father T. Vasu is a schoolteacher and mother Shobana C. K. a homemaker.
