Akhil Rawat
AIFF Media Team
KOCHI, KERALA: For Bijoy Varghese, the journey to his first national team call-up does not begin in a stadium, but on the sand.
“I come from a coastal town in Trivandrum called Pulluvila, and my house is near the beach,” he says. “I started playing football in the sand from a young age.”
That image of a young boy barefoot on the shores of Kerala, learning the game against the rhythm of the sea, now sits in striking contrast to where he finds himself today: at 26, training in a Blue Tigers camp in Kerala itself. There is something poetic about that.
Centre-back Bijoy, who plays for Punjab FC, has been named in India’s 23-member squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match against Hong Kong on March 31 in Kochi.
“It is the first time I have been called up to the national team at any level. I have a lot to learn from the camp,” he says.
For every player, a first call-up is always a defining moment. For Bijoy, this one carries added layers of geography, memory, and belonging. Few journeys align like that.
“My first camp in Kerala is a special moment for me,” he says. “My family has never seen me play, so it will be a great moment for them to see me if I get to play.”
Taking a trip down memory lane, Bijoy opens up on how he transformed from just another kid kicking the ball on the sand to a national-level player on the professional circuit.
“After joining school, I started to learn the basics and learned how to play on a ground. Different coaches taught me different things from them,” he explains.
But the real shift when football became more than just a passion came during his teenage years.
“I believe my turning point was when I played the youth league for Kovalam FC, as that introduced me to the professional circuit.”
Later, a move to the Sports Authority of India in Thiruvananthapuram exposed him to a more disciplined environment.
“At SAI, I learned to be more professional in the sport. After that, I joined college, but when I got a call for trials from East Bengal FC, I worked under some good coaches and learned more about the game. That is when I dropped out of college and became a full-time professional.”
Bijoy was signed by his home state club Kerala Blasters in the 2021-22 season, and finished as ISL cup runners-up that year. He was then part of I-League side Inter Kashi for two years, from 2023 to 2025, and was instrumental in their title-winning campaign last season.
The 2025-26 season brought a new life when Punjab FC came calling last July. “My coach (Panagiotis Dilmperis) there helped me a lot. He always used to tell me that I would make my debut for the national team soon. I would like to thank him for showing that belief in me.”
The moment that confirmed his place in the national setup came with a touch of disbelief. He shares the story.
“I was in my room when I got a call. It was coach Mahesh (Gawali) from the national team. I thought it was a prank call and spoke normally.
“That is when I realised the call was not a prank. I had a video call with coach Khalid and Mahesh, who told me they had selected me for this camp. I called everyone at home, and all of them were happy.”
Now, it’s just about living in the moment, making the most out of every training session in the India shirt, and waiting for Tuesday night to arrive.
“I cannot express how happy I will be if I make my debut. It will be the best gift that I can give my family.”
“Keralites are my brothers and sisters. I know they will come to support us. And if I play, I will give my 100 per cent. With the fans, it will give us extra motivation,” Bijoy concluded.
Shop
