Mohammed Rafi - Player

Mohammed Rafi Mohammed Rafi is a renowned Indian playback singer >> Read More... is a professional footballer from Kerala who plays as a striker for Chennaiyin FC in ISL. Hailing from Thrikarippur in Kasargod district; he was always athletically inclined growing up, his chief interest being in track and Badminton.

He was 15 years old when he witnessed a football selection in his school and fell in love with the sport. Though he was a late bloomer, he made up for it with hard work and determination. He started his career a club in his hometown, GVHS Thrikarippur before NM Najeeb, SBT’s coach at the time, spotted him and signed him.

He won the Santosh Trophy in 2005 and scored four goals in the 2004-05 season before SBT disbanded. In the same year (2005), he was called up to the national camp but couldn’t make it to the final squad. Due to his stellar performance, Mahindra United roped him in 2006, where he remained until 2010.

In his first two seasons, he performed moderately well, but it was in his last season with the club that he hit the jackpot and played his best in the career, bagging 14 goals in I-League, making him one of three players who achieved the feat. This achievement caught the attention of India’s head coach who gave him a chance in the national squad for the camp in Dubai in 2010 February, where he made a few appearances.

At the season’s end, he garnered the Player of the Year award in the second edition of FPAI awards. He was also part of the provisional 30-man squad for the Asian Cup in 2011 and played a good game in the Portugal tour. He made his international debut with a 1-0 win against Thailand in Bangkok.

He also played for Jeepmen for a short period before joining Churchill Brothers, during which he won the Durand Cup and IFA Shield. His season with the Brothers was interrupted by an injury. In 2013, he played for Mumbai on loan, making his debut for them in a game against East Bengal FC. He played the whole game and ended up helping in scoring a 3-2 win for his team.

In 2014, the veteran striker was part of Saurav Ganguly’s Altetico de Kolkata in the inaugural season of ISL. His performance contributed to the team winning the cup that year. For the next two editions, he was roped in by Kerala Blasters. With them, in 2015 he received Emerging Player of the Match award against North East United.

In 2016 season of ISL, his team went to the finals, and though he scored one goal, the team lost. In the following season, he joined Chennaiyin, where his performance helped the team reach finals and win the cup. With the next season of ISL around the corner, the creative striker is on a pre-season tour in Malaysia.