“Everywhere I went it was the same thing I heard, ‘We haven’t really’ seen enough of you’”, lamented Kean Lewis after I had asked why one of India’s brightest football stars failed to get a crack at the India Super League.
The darkness of the situation from last year still loomed large on him, when I caught up with him at the Mohun Bagan ground earlier this month.
The stars of the Mohun Bagan side hadn’t come in for practice as they would only show up for the I-League. Whilst the others did not show up as it was not a ‘mandatory’ practice. However, true to his grit, there was Kean Lewis, staying back for that extra hour even after the voluntary practice got over, honing his skills on the far side of the pitch.
Earlier this year when Mohun Bagan made its annual trip to the Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore to face Bengaluru FC, I was in the stands, finding myself in the company of my giddy cousin. The reason for his happiness? The inclusion of Kean Lewis in the side. The man he promised, “has the ability tear up the opposition.”
Now that is not a common statement you hear about most Indian footballers. However, Kean Lewis at that point of time was certainly an unknown quantity in Indian football. Not many remember his outstanding performances in the various age group competitions in Indian football. In fact, he even had a successful trial at Leicester City and only complications regarding relocating at the tender age of 13 stopped him from earning an academy contract with the English champions.
America calling
A former academic of the Tata Football Academy, Lewis had then decided that the US was the best place to pursue both his academic as well as footballing career. A successful footballing scholarship at Fairleigh Dickinson University was followed by a stint with a selection to the Houston Dynamos’ U-23 side.
However, when he decided to come back to India last season, owing to the country’s poor scouting system, Lewis was still an unknown quantity. “When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” is what they say. And toughness was something that Kean Lewis had in abundance.
The Mumbaikar was handed out a deal by Mohun Bagan, who at that time were the defending I-League champions and already had made a name as one of the entertaining sides going forward in Indian football.
At 5ft 7in, Lewis is not the physical typical forward that most Indian sides like to play with. And with Mohun Bagan possessing two of the finest wingers on show in the country in Katsumi Yusa and Sony Norde, the challenge on Lewis’ hand was a steep one.
Hard word pays off for Lewis
However, he was not one to back down and on that night in Kanteerava, he produced what many claim to be his best night in Indian football. Whilst Jeje Lalpekhlua and Sony Norde rode off to the twilight with their names on the scoresheet, Lewis’s performance had not gone amiss.
“People thought that was (joining Mohun Bagan) would be a damper for me. But whether it was I-League, the AFC Cup or the Federation Cup, I knew I had to compete with Sony (Norde) and Katsumi (Yusa). They are foreigners and the top players in the league. So, I knew I might have to sit out a few game which was disappointing, but that also always kept me on my toes and provided the zeal to work even harder.
“They have also been great teachers. Katsumi is a very smart player. He knows how to avoid tackles whilst also drawing the fouls in. Sony on the other really knows when to put the accelerator down and has a great positioning sense. Thus it was really a great learning experience even when I was on the bench.
In fact, only the crossbar stood in his way of putting his name on the scoresheet as well. It was refreshing to see an Indian player out on the wings taking on defenders and rollicking past them with pace and panache.
But he has always been a hard critic of himself and Lewis was not too pleased with his debut season in India. “I think I played even less than 50% of the games for Mohun Bagan. So I wouldn’t even give myself more than 5 out of 10. I still have a long way to go.
“Step by step I have been able to catch they eyes of the people. First with the CFL (Calcutta Football League), then the I-League and finally my performances in the AFC Cup has helped me get noticed. And finally because of all of these, I finally got my deal in the ISL (Indian Super League). Thanks to my parents. my agency and my hard work, they couldn’t say no to me anymore”
“I hope to get more exposure with the ISL and that will help me get even further in my career.”
Known to have a silky touch and a quick burst of pace, Lewis, however, is not resting on his laurels and trying to get better in other aspects of his game. “Physically I am small, but I have always considered that size doesn’t matter. I am working on both my physique and my agility, so whatever I give up in size, I make with these things. On the field, it’s not always about strength. You also have to be smart to know how to go into tackles and avoid injuries”.
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In the space of one year, Kean Lewis made his mark as one of the rising talents of Indian football. He has taken everything in his stride and now stands to take his bow for the Delhi Dynamos in their pre-season opener against none other than Premier League side West Bromwich Albion.
Nobody doubts his talent now, and if he goes on his graph of ascendancy, it won’t be far for him to get his first national call-up. Kean Lewis; remember the name.
