Football is the most popular sport in the World sporting scene and has a large following all over the universe. The game requires excellent skill, fitness from the individual player, as it is a team game needs excellent co-ordination with fellow players to succeed in the game at any level. Mysuru has been a centre which has been producing talented footballers from time to time who have gone on to play for the State and for the Country at various events. One such player from Jolly XI Football Club, S.M. Balakrishna Gowda, has done every one proud by representing Karnataka State Junior (U-19) Football team in the National Junior Football Championships for the B.C. Roy Trophy 2016-17, and was part of the team which finished runner-up in the National Championships. He is our ‘Star This Week.’

The 16-year-old Balakrishna Gowda plays as a mid-fielder and also plays as a striker some times. He is the son of S.B. Mahesh and P.G. Geetha, residents at Jayalakshmipuram, Mysuru.

A II PUC Commerce student, this lad impressed the State selectors with his impressive play and represented Karnataka in the National Championships this year.

Balakrishna Gowda, represented Karnataka in the U-19 National Junior Football Championships for the B.C. Roy Trophy 2016-17-II Tier Tournament held at Cuttack, Odisha, recently and was part of the Karnataka team which finished runner-up in the Tournament.

In the first match, Karnataka beat Chandigarh 3-0 and in the second match, Karnataka boys beat Gujarat 1-0. In the finals against Meghalaya, Karnataka lost by penalties 3-4 after being logged goalless 0-0 at full time. He played in all the three matches in the tournament and gave impressive display.

Balakrishna Gowda took up football at a young age of 14 years and was encouraged and guided by former State footballer from Mysuru, Varun Karthik. Varun coached this youngster daily at the SBRR Mahajana PU College Grounds and improved his overall game.

Balakrishna has been playing for Jolly XI in the Mysore District Football Association (MDFA)  ‘A’ Division league for the last three years and has been performing well in the league.

Impressed by his performance in the league and in the Inter-College Tournaments, he was recommended for selection trials to the State Junior squad by L. Manjunath, Hon. Secretary, MDFA, who has been a source of inspiration to this lad.

Balakrishna earned selection to the State squad and represented the team which finished runner-up in the National tourney. He, along with Karnataka team members, will be honoured by the KSFA in a grand function to be held in Bengaluru, during the AGM to be held next week.

Balakrishna Gowda intends to work hard in the coming days and represent the India U-19 team in the days to come and also represent the State senior squad in the Santosh Trophy.