It has been a while, but we are back again with another edition of IN CONVERSATION. Today, we will get to know about someone who has been with the club since its inception. He is considered the most experienced player in the current squad with stints in I-League 2 and Top Elite Division clubs like Kenkre FC, UBI etc. However, he came back home to make an impact and bring the club to where it is right now. An avid sportsman since childhood and a graduate in Computer Science from the renowned Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Mumbai, let us meet MS Midfielder Ravish D’Souza.

You started football pretty late in your life and have done amazingly well. What inspired you to take up football and what kept you in the game till date?

I was a very sporty kid and I liked to compete. I was a good athlete in school, played a lot of gully cricket too. It’s true that I started late compared to others & I got introduced to Football by my elder brother Rohit D’Souza when i was in Standard 7. We played in our society compound frequently and it gradually developed into my passion. Football takes time to master technically and there are a lot of other factors involved like gamesense, teamwork, communication, tactics, etc that make success harder to achieve. This complex nature of the sport appeals to me and drives me on.

You are not only the co-founder of Mumbai Strikers SC, but also have been an integral part of the playing squad from several years. Considering all your experience with other top clubs of Mumbai, tell us about your journey in football.

My journey in football is like the share market, unpredictably volatile. I have seen it all from being a regular first Eleven player, to being on the bench, in the stands(reserves) along with a fair share of injuries at the best phases of my playing form. I began playing in the lowest division of the Mumbai league and went on to represent Kenkre FC in the I-league 2nd div in 2011 scoring four goals during the process from qualifying to missing a playoff spot by a goal after the group stage, all while suffering multiple nose fractures to a bout of malaria a week prior, & playing while on medication. Then on I returned to play for MS on qualifying for the 2nd div playoffs in the Mumbai league. MS succeeded in qualifying for the first division that year and went on to clinch the first division title three years on. The elite division promotion came in two years time and three years on now we are among the top four teams in the Mumbai Elite league. MS has come a long way and I’m glad I have been a major part of its history on & off the pitch. I think I have had a fair amount of success keeping in mind the trophies I have won along the way. Not many get the chance to pursue their love for the game for as long as I have done. So I consider myself extremely fortunate.

After a couple of seasons, you made your way out and ventured to play at a level as high as I-League 2 for Kenkre FC. How would you describe your experience with Kenkre FC, UBI and other clubs you played for?

I have gone through the entire range of emotions during my stints with the few clubs I have represented. My journey started with a debut goal for MS in the fourth Division of the Mumbai League. It’s my favourite memory as I experienced the thrill and high the sport offers at my very first outing in my club colors. We managed to gain promotion to the 3rd division that year after finishing in the top eight. I continued playing in the third division the subsequent season after which, Mumbai Customs came calling which plied their trade in the Super Division. After a month long trial, I managed to get in the team but was not at par with others in the squad. It was a big jump for me and I spent most of my time on the bench, though I had the talent, I found myself short on strength and power. Back then it was all about strength and Power as the season commenced during the rains, being slender built and weak, kicking the ball in such mushy conditions was a task. I stayed with Customs for two years winning the super division title in the first season and ending at close to mid table in the 2nd season. One of my fondest memories is scoring on my debut start in the Elite division for Mumbai Customs. The following year I decided to join Kenkre in the super division in search of regular playing time. I again remember scoring on my debut for Kenkre versus Mumbai Muslims. I spent a good 5 years at Kenkre, most of which were sadly on the bench & reserves but I did win my second super division champions medal in my first season while playing a key role but was unfortunately side lined with an injury the following elite division season. The following two seasons were also not fruitful in regards to playing time for various reasons but it made me stronger than ever mentally. I left Kenkre to join UBI in pursuit of playing time and was showered with the coach’s blessings. I had a successful season playing mostly as a centre back, a position I had never played before. I repaid my coaches belief in me by starting every match and playing every minute of that season. I decided to go back to Kenkre the following year as I wanted to test myself at the national level with I-league 2nd division in mind. I had a poor involvement in the local league that season for reasons out my comprehension but was involved heavily in the national league qualification and went on to play every match during the I-league 2nd Division group stage. I scored a total of four goals, two goals during the qualification stage from midfield and two goals from the right back position in the 2nd division I-League. I had sustained several setbacks during the entire process in the form of injuries and illnesses during crucial stages of the season but it turned out good overall. When I look back I feel the sport has tested my character the most as a sportsperson and most importantly as a human being. I have come to believe that you cannot force anything to happen, things come your way when it’s the right time and you achieve the things you do in your right time.

Mumbai Strikers SC was in the Second Division of the MDFA, when you made your surprising comeback. What learning did you implement from the other clubs you played for in your tenure?

I had decided to leave Kenkre the following year post my experience in the 2nd division I-League due to personal reasons. I had a tough choice between UBI, my previous club and MS, my boyhood club as my next team. UBI were in elite and wanted my services but we couldn’t come to an agreement. MS were fighting for a place in the playoffs of the 2nd division Mumbai League and since I was involved in its affairs realised my addition would improve its chances of qualification to the first division but I convinced myself that only if MS managed a playoff spot, I would join the team. MS did get the playoff spot and rest is MS History. We qualified for first division finishing in the top eight and my second stint with MS was in motion. I’m with MS right now and look forward to contribute to its next chapter. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have contributed and been part of my journey in football; it has been an amazing ride.

How would you compare the cultures of other clubs you have played for in Mumbai with the culture in Mumbai Strikers SC?

In time Mumbai Strikers has developed the ideal club culture keeping in mind its values, beliefs and welfare of players as its priority. Most clubs in Mumbai have no culture or values in place. There are several reasons to why players get discontent but having certain checks and taking tough management decisions help in maintaining harmony. Over the years MS has taken a lot of damage to keep its values intact. Most clubs let their good players get away with any kind of misbehaviour and discrepancies. That’s where MS has excelled as a club, upholding strong core values at the direst of circumstances. MS has managed to learn from its mistakes season after season and developed a brotherly atmosphere with likeminded individuals having different targets but the same goal. Only a few clubs in Mumbai practice sincerely and aspire to play higher. Most of them look for short term targets season on season so as to maintain their status or a short cut to achieve promotion. Such clubs are not good for players looking to learn & develop their overall character. Very few clubs treat their players well, give them enough respect and opportunities they deserve to make them feel important and give them enough reasons to leave it all on the field of play. MS has achieved spectacular results when you consider the resources, limited players and management experience at disposal.

How would you describe last season's tremendous run of the Elite Division and what are your aspirations with respect to the club after their top 3 finish?

Last Season has been the best season in Elite so far for MS. Before the pandemic made a spot entry, we were on track to achieve our highest league table finish only losing to the two top teams in the League. We could have even achieved a second place finish or better crowned Champions, had we won all our remaining matches and the top teams having lost some points which were totally possible with only teams from the bottom half of the table to play. But since we are in an act of god kind of situation, not knowing when things will be close to normal, an unfinished 3rd place finish too is a life saver and gives us extra motivation to go all the way next time round.

Being a vital part of the management, you have to look at both aspects of the club, on and off the ground. How do you manage to keep a balance between the two?

I have been playing and enjoying the sport for a long time. I have been part of the management team since the beginning. So both are things that make me tick. I don’t let it mix most of the time. The entire team from the players to the management are juggling their love for the sport with other responsibilities, so it is not something new that we do but a learning curve that all grasp sooner or later.

What advice would you give to the new generation who want to make a career in the sport?

The future of the sport is the brightest it has ever been. I think the newer generation has everything at its disposal, from the sports know how, to access to clubs, coaches and teams all over via the internet. Success will come with hard work, sincerity and a fair amount of luck but making sense of all the info at hand and using it to measure ones choices will take a sound mind. So my only advice would be to stay calm and look at the bigger picture while making choices.