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Uttam Rai

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Uttam Rai
Personal information
Date of birth (1996-12-20) 20 December 1996 (age 27)
Place of birth Chumbung, West Sikkim, India[1]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Sankata Boys
Youth career
2007 Namchi Football Academy
2008–2009 Air Force School
2010–2012 IMG Soccer Academy
2013–2014 Colorado Rush
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2016 Dempo 10 (2)
2016 Chennaiyin 1 (0)
2016–2017 → Minerva Punjab (loan) 4 (0)
2017–2019 Churchill Brothers 17 (0)
2019–2020 Friends Club 9 (4)
2020–2021 Garhwal 5 (0)
2021 Southern Samity ?
2021– Sankata Boys 12 (5)
International career
2010 India U14
2011–2012 India U16 7 (8)
2013–2015 India U19 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 December 2021

Uttam Rai (born 20 December 1996) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a forward.[2][3] He previously appeared with both the Nepali Martyr's Memorial A-Division League clubs Friends Kopundole and Sankata Boys.[4]

Early career

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Rai was born on 20 December 1996 in Chumbung, West Sikkim, India.[1] In 2007 Uttam joined the Namchi Football Academy, under the Search for More Bhaichungs program,[5] in which he played in the Subroto Cup for two years.[6] His highlight of the tournament was when he scored four goals in only 35 minutes against Sri Vyas Vidya Mandir, a game Namchi won 13–0.[6]

After the 2007 Subroto Cup, Uttam gained a scholarship for Air Force School Football Academy who are based in Delhi where he stayed for two years. While with Air Force Uttam played in the Subroto Cup and in the DSA School Level League.[6] Uttam played in the Subroto Cup for three seasons scoring 32 goals.[7] He was then selected for the Subroto XI team which would tour Europe. While on tour Uttam received an offer from Swiss club Grasshopper Club Zürich who play in the Swiss Super League after Rai played two games against them for Subroto XI and scored three goals.[8] However, due to being unable to gain a work permit Uttam came back to India.[6] After coming back to India, Uttam was selected for the India team to play in the Tata Tea Jago Re tournament and travelled with an U16 squad to play some matches and train in Arsenal Academy.[6] While at the tournament Uttam played against Canada, South Africa and England in first few rounds. India were knocked out after losing 7-5, after a semi-final against Spain.[6]

In 2010, Uttam gained a selection to join the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Florida, United States with 14 other players from the India U16s.[6] In 2011, Uttam played in the Dallas Cup for the India U16s, but it ended early for him as he got injured.[6] One year later after scoring six goals in only four games during the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship qualification Uttam was named as one of the Top 10 Players To Watch Out For during the 2012 Dallas Cup.[9] However he did not score in any of the three matches for India during the Dallas Cup as India went 0–1–2.[10] In 2013–14, Rai appeared with USL League Two side Colorado Rush.[11][12]

Club career

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Dempo

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Rai made his professional début on 23 May 2015 as 73rd-minute substitute for Alwyn George in a match against Bengaluru FC. Just four minutes later he scored the equalizing goal in an eventual 1–1 draw after receiving a pass from fellow substitute Mandar Rao Desai.[13]

Sankata Boys

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On 12 November 2021, Rai moved to Nepal again and signed with Sankata Boys S.C. for the 2021 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League season.[14] He debuted on 20 November against Himalayan Sherpa Club, the match ended 1–1.[15] He scored a brace on 27 December in their 3–0 victory against Brigade Boys Club.[16] He scored a total of 5 goals in 12 league matches for the club.[17]

International career

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Uttam made his country debut at the under-14 level for India in 2010 during the AFC U14 Football Festival.[5] He then made his debut for the India U16 side on 1 October 2011 in the first match of the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship qualification against Kyrgyzstan and marked it off as he scored 5 goals during that match.[18] Rai then scored again for the India U16s against Tajikistan on 7 October 2011 as India qualified for the 2012 AFC U-16 Championship.[19]

Uttam was in the Indian U19 squad for the 2014 AFC U-19 Championship qualification in 2013 where he made 3 appearances.[20][21][22]

Personal life

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Rai was born in Namchi, Sikkim very close to the birthplace of his footballing idol Baichung Bhutia. He is also a fan of Spanish striker Fernando Torres and Barcelona.[6][23][24]

Career statistics

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As of 29 May 2016[25]
Club Season League Federation Cup Durand Cup AFC Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Dempo 2014–15 I-League 2 1 0 0 0 0 — — 2 1
2015–16 I-League 2nd Division 8 1 — — — — — — 8 1
Career total 10 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 2

Honours

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Dempo

India U16

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Ghoshal, Amoy (9 November 2012). "Bhaichung Bhutia is an inspiration – India U-16 striker Uttam Rai". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  2. ^ "Player profile – Career stations – Statistics: Uttam Rai". soccer24.com. Soccer24. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  3. ^ Ganguly, Abhishek. "Comfortable win for Mohammedan Sporting in IFA Shield opener". Football News. Times of India. Archived from the original on 6 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  4. ^ UTTAM RAI: ON A GOALSCORING RUN IN NEPAL Archived 23 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Sikkim Express. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Chumbung's Uttam Rai listed among top 10 players to watch at Dallas Cup in USA". Sikkim Now. 17 March 2012. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sengupta, Somnath (16 August 2011). "Indian Football: Profiling The Future – Uttam Rai". The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 20 April 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  7. ^ "UTTAM RAI". Libero Sports. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  8. ^ Sarkar, Saikat (24 September 2009). "Following in Bhutia's footsteps". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 16 April 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  9. ^ Madaan, Sachin (20 March 2012). "Indian Football: The Future Looks Uttam For Rai As The Teenager Makes Waves Before The 2012 Dallas Cup". The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2012.
  10. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. ^ "Flatirons Rush Soccer Club – Transfers". soccer24.com. Soccer24. Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  12. ^ Chaudhuri, Arunava (6 November 2012). "Coke to sponsor teenager Uttam Rai's US training stint at Colorado Rush". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  13. ^ Brendon Netto & Anselm Noronha (23 May 2014). "Dempo SC 1-1 Bengaluru FC: Both sides live to fight on the final day". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  14. ^ Sigdel, Sandesh (12 November 2021). "Sankata Club Announces Squad For Upcoming League Season". goalnepal.com. Kathmandu: Goal Nepal. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  15. ^ Nepal Ice Himalayan Sherpa Vs Sankata Boys Archived 23 November 2021 at the Wayback Machine allevents.in. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Sankata Boys 3–0 Brigade Boys Club (27 December 2021)". Facebook.com (Football Philosophers). Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Martyrs Memorial A Division League 2021/22 – 2078 Martyr's Memorial A-Division League". www.hamrokhelkud.com. Hamaro Khel Kud. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  18. ^ "The AFC". Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  19. ^ "The AFC". Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  20. ^ "The AFC". Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  21. ^ "The AFC". Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  22. ^ "The AFC". Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  23. ^ Ghoshal, Amoy. "Bhaichung Bhutia is an inspiration – India U-16 striker Uttam Rai". Sportskeeda. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  24. ^ Madaan, Sachin (8 June 2012). "Uttam Rai, India U-16 Sikkimese Phenomenon: THT Exclusive Interview". The Hard Tackle. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  25. ^ "India - U. Rai - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  26. ^ Results & Fixtures: 2nd Division I-League 2016 Archived 18 March 2019 at the Wayback Machine i-league.org. Retrieved 1 March 2021
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