“It means a lot to be picked to represent your country,” says Aaryan Raj, the only Kiwi-Indian in New Zealand’s squad for FIFA U-20 World Cup to be played in Argentina later this month.
The 24-team tournament opens on May 20, 2023, when New Zealand will square off with Guatemala in Santiago del Estero, and ends with the final in La Plata on June 11. It will take place across four host cities of La Plata, Mendoza, San Juan and Santiago del Estero.
Raj has been part of Junior All Whites for the past few months. He has played and won Oceania Football Championships held at Tahiti, which were the pre-qualifiers for the U-20 World Cup. He says, "Everyone has been training hard to stay fit and play good football throughout the time. However, it’s always good to hear you have been picked. It means a lot to be picked to represent your country. It means I have a job to do and do well.”
The 20-year-old defender says his passion for football began at an early age, and he was enrolled in a football club when he was just six. “I guess I showed interest in kicking the ball from a very young age. Apparently, as a kid, I played with a ball more than I played with a car or other toys. I seemingly made my interest very clear very early on. My parents enrolled me in club football when I was six, and I have stuck to it since then.
Raj started his budding career with Auckland-based Bucklands Beach AFC, and after about six years he moved to Eastern Suburbs AFC, where he has been playing at the premier level for the past seven to eight years.
“I have been fortunate to be a part of the playing 11 for all of my school football teams too. Football has been a big part of my growing up. One of my memories that I look back on with pride is being part of the school football team while in Year 6 at Botany Primary and leading the team to victory. That was the first time in 20 years the school won,” he recalls.
Raj was only six months old when his parents, Raj Pushpagadan and Kavitha Raj, moved to New Zealand from India about two decades ago. He says, “My elder sister Swehea and I grew up in New Zealand. My early years were in Papatoetoe, and later I schooled in Botany Primary, followed by Bucklands Beach Intermediate and finally, Macleans College. I have taken a break after completing my high school. I plan to chase my football goals for now and return to studies soon.”
Raj trains every alternate day at the club, including strength and conditioning training. He believes staying fit during lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions was challenging, as he could not play enough football during that time.
Raj, whose favourite footballers are Virgil Van Dyk and Paul Pogba, says, “I would like to pursue professional football and see where that takes me, perhaps play for an overseas club and gain more experience.”
Raj enjoys all kinds of sport and music, and is these days is particularly keen on golf, which he picked up in the past couple of years. “I also enjoy basketball with my friends. I enjoy different genres of music, and my playlist is quite diverse. One of my favourite things to do at home is playing the piano and entertaining the family,” he says.
On a parting note, he has a message for those who want to make a career in sports. “Find your passion, keep at it and never give up,” he says.
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