From fancy dress competition to the national team: Brison looks to keep journey going

Bhubaneswar: It has already been quite a journey for Brison Fernandes from the scenic south Goa village of Loutolim to the centrestage of Indian football.

And, on Friday, when the youngster's name was announced from the stage as AIFF's Most Promising Men's Player of the Year, he could have been reminded of another stage, albeit at a kindergarten, where winning a fancy dress competition had sparked his passion for the game.

"I was in KG 2 or something and there was a fancy dress competition in my school. And my ‘dada' (father) bought me a Brazil national team jersey and shoes. So I was a football player in that competition. And I won that competition," reminisced Brison during an exclusive chat with TOI. "So, from that day onwards, I fell in love with this game."

Yet, with no proper playground in his village, Brison forced his reluctant friends to accompany him to a ground further away every evening to play the game he had fallen in love with.

Having been gifted with the enthusiasm for sports like his parents, Brison played at the U12 level in his school before joining Goa-based Salgaocar FC's U14 squad. Two years later, he was brought to FC Goa academy by well-known Goan scout Jaoquim Crasto.

"When I was 15 or 16, I joined FC Goa. Then onwards, I played U18 there for maybe three seasons and then went on to pro league. And then into the senior squad," said the youngster who went on to win the Durand Cup in 2021 with Goa, his only trophy with the club so far.

But that can change on Saturday if Goa can win the Super Cup. And Brison would love to do that as a parting gift for Manolo Marquez, who will forego the club reins after it.

"He (Marquez) gave me this opportunity, you know. Coach Carlos (Pena) also did that, but not as much as I used to get a chance to play in the second half. But coach Manolo believed in me. And I want to give him this trophy in return," said the ISL Emerging Player of the Season.

While Marquez has been vocal in his appreciation of this "typical Goan player", the 24-year-old has worked hard to be ready for the 7 goals and 2 assists for FC Goa this season after a lukewarm first two seasons in ISL.

"I didn't take a break after last season because I wanted to achieve something. And to achieve something without putting in hard work is impossible. I know I have talent. But without hard work it's nothing," explained the in-form winger who also scored Goa's opener in the Super Cup semifinal against Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

His ISL form this season also earned him his maiden national team call-up, something that he had always been waiting for, against Bangladesh in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier last month.

"It's always a proud feeling wearing that badge and representing your people which I've always wanted to. I want to live that moment forever," Brison said with a glimmer in his eyes as he recollected the moment when he got onto the Shillong pitch as a second-half substitute. "At first, I felt very nervous. But after 1-2 passes, I began to feel comfortable. Coach Manolo also helped me a lot."

One can imagine it was a first of many such moments given his current form and the problem of finding good Indian attackers daunting Marquez at the helm of the national team. And come Saturday, Brison could help his team bid a fitting adieu to the Spanish coach while adding another trophy in his journey with FC Goa.