Every time Aditi Chauhan walks on to the field of Upminster’s Hornchurch Stadium in East London, she wants to be Manuel Neuer, Germany’s and Bayern Munich’s charismatic goalkeeper. Neuer gained plenty of accolades at the 2014 World Cup for his outfield contributions.
I do like to play like Neuer, to come out of my penalty box and play as a sweeper-keeper. He makes exceptional saves, he has confidence outside the box to clear the ball. His confidence on the field stands out. That’s what inspires me.Aditi Chauhan
Back in August, Chauhan made her debut for the West Ham United Ladies Football Club in the Premier League, the third tier of English women’s football, but she didn’t play with the security of a German custodian and conceded five goals against Coventry City.
It was a disappointing result, but it was also an eye-opener. It was my first game at this level, it was a good game to realise that I had to improve a lot and to the standard of the Premier League and West Ham.Aditi Chauhan
West Ham’s fortunes have been very mixed though this season. The club lingers in the 9th spot in the league table with a negative goal difference, but that hasn’t stalled Chauhan’s personal progress.
The club management knows this is not the best team. There is a new manager this season and a lot of good players left. It’s not the best condition to be in, but I feel I have improved a lot in every game and I am getting better.Aditi Chauhan
Chauhan can’t celebrate her achievements yet. Her student visa expires at the end of January with her parents covering her expenses. She faces the possibility of not finishing her first season at West Ham. The club is trying to help, but doesn’t have the clout of its male namesake and can’t sponsor a visa.
It’s always been the case since the start of my career. I have struggled and achieved everything on my own, through my own effort. I have not had the support of anybody. It’s sad and disappointing, but that’s how it is and that’s how it has always been.Aditi Chauhan
Chauhan rose steadily in the game – first she played for the Delhi U-19 team, then she got selected for the India U-19 team and finally she won the South Asian Football Federation Championships in 2012 with the senior team – but her story reflects the treatment of the vast majority of Indian women’s football players.
Last December the All India Football Federation (AIFF) promised to launch a professional women’s league to develop the game with the Indian Super League serving as a blueprint, but those plans have not materialised.
The World Cup [in Canada] showed that the standard of women’s football is very high and it’s improving every year and in every country. That should have been an eye-opener, a motivating factor to start a league and do something to improve women’s football in India. Unfortunately, there has not been any development in that regard.Aditi Chauhan
But adversity won’t stop Chauhan. Last week she celebrated her 23th birthday by bagging the Woman in Football Award at the third Asian Football Awards in London.
It was a great feeling and it was great to win the award, especially at Wembley Stadium. My efforts and journey in football have been recognised.Aditi Chauhan
It’s time the AIFF sits up and takes notice so that future talents in the women’s game can fulfil their dreams without protracted struggles.
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