The versatile defender spoke to the-aiff.com about his half-a-decade-long national team journey until now. “Getting my first opportunity in 2019 was a dream come true for me. Ever since I joined the national team, I have learned so many things from my colleagues, teammates, and coaches and I still do every day. It’s been a learning experience, and training every day and playing international games has helped me to grow as a player,” said Bheke.

While he couldn’t zero in on one particular moment as his best in the India jersey, Bheke revealed a few special games. “My best moments have been when I got my first call-up for the King’s Cup (in Thailand) and made my debut against Curacao, and when I scored my first goal against Bahrain. I can also add the AFC Asian Cup experience. I played all three games, so it was a big thing for me.”

Bheke has built a special relationship with Chhetri, which also spanned at the club level after spending four years at Bengaluru FC between 2017 and 2021. Opening up about his bond with the Indian captain, Bheke said, “I still remember the first day I met him. We were in Mumbai I think back in 2016-17, and played a five-a-side game. From that day till today, it’s been a great journey for us. We have shared countless victories and unforgettable memories. He’s been an inspiration to all of us. He was the first person to give me a call when I got called for the national camp for the first time. I’m so happy to have shared the pitch with him and I just want to thank him for all the memories and the lessons he has given to all the players and for being an inspiration to the whole nation.”

And it’s not just inside the green pitch where the bond blooms. Chhetri has been a friend, brother, and mentor for not just Bheke but everyone who is part of the national camp.

“Yes, we share a lot of things off the field,” revealed Bheke. “We spend a lot of time together. Sometimes, we go out together. He talks to not just me but all the players about off-the-pitch stuff, things about life, what mistakes he’s done and what he’s learned. He guides players about their football careers. His relationship with me has always been very good. Whether in the national camp or in the club. So he is, you know, like a big brother.”

In this brotherhood, Bheke has also inculcated Chhetri’s leadership skills. It’s fair to say that when Chhetri hangs up his India boots after June 6, new youngsters would look up to leaders like Bheke in the national team. As captain of Mumbai City FC, Bheke is no stranger to leading the lines and taking the reins for his team. Less than three weeks ago, he lifted the Indian Super League Cup title for his club in Kolkata, at the very same pitch India will face Kuwait in the must-win FIFA World Cup Qualifiers game.

“We have a big stage right in front of us, so I hope we do well and qualify for the next round, which will be a great achievement for the country. We’re positive. The way the camp is going on, the way everyone is training, I can see that there is a positive atmosphere in the team. Everyone is looking forward to that game. We’re all working on ourselves and getting better in shape,” said Bheke.

The Mumbai-born defender also shared what it meant for him to lift the ISL trophy wearing the captain’s armband.

“Winning the ISL Cup this time was a totally different feeling as a captain. I won it with Bengaluru FC in 2019, but I was not a senior player or a leader of the team. We had many leaders and captains in that squad.

“This time, I was the captain of my home team. And lifting the trophy for my hometown club was a proud moment for me, for my family, for my friends who were there in Mumbai. I lifted the trophy for my people. It was a very emotional moment for me. I felt good that I gave my home team something in return.”

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The seasoned India defender also appreciated the smooth transition that these players have made from youth level football to the senior team, hailing the level of football on display in the RFDL.

“It’s a great initiative. I think the players who are graduating from there are performing really well in the ISL. There are a couple of players from there in our team also. You can see them in the Super Cup, when the national team players were out; they performed really well, especially against Odisha FC. That was one of the positive signs of Indian football, where you can see the junior players coming up and doing so well,” Bheke said.

To give some context, Mumbai City FC had signed Franklin Nazareth and Nathan Rodrigues ahead of the current season of the ISL. Both of them had played in the RFDL for the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) last season and were a part of Mumbai City FC squad for the Super Cup as well. They are RFYC graduates, having underwent their training in their residential academy in Navi Mumbai before embarking on their respective professional careers.

“Very important for a youngster to stick to the plans of the team”

In addition to being a key first team player, Bheke is also a seasoned figure that youngsters look up to within the Mumbai City FC roster and beyond. With vast experience in clubs spanning across the country, such as East Bengal FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Bengaluru FC, and now Mumbai City FC, the 33-year-old has seen Indian football from up close and is a key guide to the youngsters rising the ranks within the Islanders’ setup. Bheke believes that there are certain moments in games that completely swing the momentum and change the course of action, which need to be capitalised upon to get a favourable result.

“Throughout my career, there have been so many lessons that I have learnt, but there have also been small details that have helped me grow individually. I have seen games where a foul has taken a team down and taken them out of the competition. These small things are very important that we have to keep in mind, and we need to keep focusing on that. That’s what I keep telling the junior players, that being focused in the moment and sticking to the plans is very important,” Bheke said.

“The Mumbai City FC philosophy is ingrained amongst players”

Ahead of the second leg of their semi-final against FC Goa, Bheke also opened up about the philosophy of Mumbai City FC, and how it is ingrained into the players’ right from the time they set foot into

the club. The skipper understands that having a mind-set and philosophy defined helps the players buy into the ideas readily and thus begin delivering the required performances right from the get go.

“There is a philosophy of Mumbai City FC of how we want to play. It’s there in the mind of everyone. We know right from the beginning about how we are going to play, all the players, whether it’s the ones who are playing or the ones coming off the bench, everyone knows that playing style and sticking to it is the key.” Bheke said.

Bheke has been one of the most recognizable faces in Indian football in the last decade. His understanding of the youth football structure and how players can progress from competitions like the RFDL to cement their first-team spots is certainly insightful. For him though, the focus shifts to the second leg of Mumbai City FC’s semifinal fixture against FC Goa, after they produced a stunning late comeback to win the opening leg by 3-2 at the home of the Gaurs.

Courtesy:- Reliance Developmental sports Media.

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SGI will be providing them with on and off field representation whilst aiding them in their all-round career development. Indian under-23 internationals Jayesh Rane and Rahul Bheke, Ex- Afghanistan captain Zohib Islam Amiri, ‘India’s David Beckham’ Steven Dias, and Rohit Mirza has joined SGI’s stable with the group of players now awaiting news of their next destinations for the upcoming campaign.

SGI will guide the players from now on and will help them to choose the right direction on and off the field. It’s a terrific move to acquire the services of the players who are quite popular among the fans in India.

Most importantly, SGI Board of Directors has made it crystal clear that financial rewards from the work in the player representation market will be re-invested into grassroots development business which will provide an eco-system to the game.

Aizawl FC and I-league winner Jayesh Rane is extremely delighted by joining SGI: “I am extremely happy to sign with Sporting Group International. Adrian and Karan have a long-term plan for me, which I am confident of achieving with them. I look forward to working with them.”

Former Mumbai FC defender Rahul Bheke commented: “I’m very excited to begin this.  I completely trust my decision to join with them and cannot wait to join forces.  Together we will make it big.”

After signing with SGI, Amiri said: “Born and raised in Afghanistan, India feels like home now. I thank Adrian and Karan for the association with SGI and this huge international tie up.  I can’t wait to get started!”

Many players from SGI will be up for grabs in the upcoming ISL drafts which have also opened the door for the rest of the players who have missed out in the previous season. Lots of work still to be done but SGI is surely taking the right steps.

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