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On Monday, March 28; Anwar Ali returned to Minerva Academy after making his senior India national team debut and as expected, he got a hero’s welcome back home. Anwar will do his post-season recovery at the Minerva Academy after a stellar 2021-22 season.
Anwar Ali was on loan to FC Goa during the 2021-22 season, but only was free to play after the January 2022 transfer window. He made 10 appearances for the Gaurs, notching up one assist in the process.
Anwar finished the ISL season with 517 passes, 656 touches, 14 interceptions and 23 clearances, with 51.7 average passes per game.
The brilliance of the centre-back made huge waves in Indian Football, and it earned him a call up to the senior India national team earlier this month.
Anwar Ali made his debut for the senior Indian national team on March 21 in a friendly against Bahrain, when he came off the bench. The following friendly against Belarus saw Anwar Ali make his full debut on March 26.
Anwar Ali’s journey is one of the most impressive stories in Indian sport. He burst onto the scene during the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017 and impressed heavily throughout the tournament. He subsequently played in the I-league with the Indian Arrows the following season.
However, a heart condition meant he had to take a break from football. But Anwar didn’t lose hope, and with the help of Ranjit Bajaj and Henna Bajaj, he recovered his fitness at Minerva Academy.
Anwar Ali made his comeback in the Himachal State League with Techtro Swades United, and then went on to play in the Punjab State League as well as the Delhi League with Minerva Academy and Delhi FC respectively.
With Delhi FC, he also played in the Durand Cup and then in the I-league Qualifiers in 2021, before getting an offer from FC Goa to play in India’s top division.
Anwar is expected to continue his loan spell with FC Goa until the end of the 2022-23 season.
