KUALA LUMPUR – Annil Vigneswaran aspires to do more than just play football at the highest levels; the young lad also dreams of being an inspiration for others who share the same goal.
Years after practising a gruelling early morning regimen of going to school and then attending team training at 5pm, the 20-year-old is now a professional football player.
Having just signed with Bundesliga 3 team Waldhof Mannheim in Germany, Annil has a glittering career track ahead.
But despite being off to a flying start, Annil still has his feet firmly on the ground.
Speaking to The Vibes recently, Annil recounted how his parents’ support has been the bedrock of his success, giving a nod to the intense training sessions he endured every morning and afternoon.
Annil said his mother’s daily calls have been nursing his homesickness and fuelled his motivation to succeed.
“My mum, Deepa Kumari Veerasingam, is my everything. She is my best friend, my support system and my number one fan. Everything that I am today, I owe it to her.
“I talk to her every day…it’s the hardest thing, to be far from her, but I know it’s a sacrifice I’ve made so I can make her proud.
“Sometimes we would video call and laugh and joke just to make it a good day.”
You’ll never walk alone
He fondly remembers the time he spent playing with KLYS at Club Aman in KL, during which coach Luis made sure he understood the tactics of the game.
From young, Annil had always wanted to play for his favourite club, Liverpool.
He knew that he needed to have a better understanding of the game to add to both skill and experience of playing for the right coaches to get there.
While playing for KLYS, he went to Gothia Cup in Sweden and scored 8 goals in the cup and impressed a scout from the Pforzeim 5th division in Germany.
Upon the team’s request, his family joined him on his visit to the team and signed him with them after hearing the plan they had to develop him as a player.
At the tender age of 16, Annil lived alone in an apartment in Germany.
The language barrier posed great challenges to Annil that year, coupled with the stark differences in food and culture.
At home, his only challenge was continuously learning football tricks and trades; in Germany, his entire world changed overnight.
U-19 Bundesliga
In his second year at Pforzeim, a new coach named Samuel Cardenas joined the club.
Impressed by Annil, Samuel took the teen under his wing.
After working hard with Samuel, Annil received an offer from Sandhausen near Hidelberg in Division 2 when he was 18.
He played for the Under-19 squad with U19 Bundesliga in the country, whose opponents were mainstays such as Bayern and Frankfurt.
This was when he came under the wing of coach Raphael Laeghnaj.
In Germany, the rules are that a player must move to the main team at 19.
Annil’s next team was Freiburger FC (4th Division), and he played for the main team as centre-back.
This was also the time he managed to sign with an agent, Marco Merkel.
Marco then ended up helping him sign with his current club, Mannheim.
Pay it forward
In the midst of his tight schedule filled with training and studying, Annil managed to start DW Consultancy, which helps young players from Asians to train with clubs in Germany.
He is now helping to open pathways for fellow Asians to get a chance to play in Germany and hopefully springboard them to other countries and leagues.
Those interested in such opportunities can reach Annil via Instagram at @annil25 or email him at [email protected]. – The Vibes, November 9, 2023
