Latest news with #RahulKP
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Want to showcase Indian football with West Ham: Rahul KP
Rahul KP will represent West Ham at The Soccer Tournament (TST) in the US next month Panaji: Rahul KP can already feel the weight of the West Ham United jersey. Ever since the Premier League club announced that the Odisha FC winger will represent them at The Soccer Tournament (TST) in the United States next month, Rahul's phone hasn't stopped buzzing, with messages and calls. Whenever he steps out, youngsters back home in Kerala look at him in awe. 'A lot of people think that I'll play in the Premier League, while others think it's just a seven-a-side tournament and it's no big deal,' Rahul told TOI on Wednesday over a video call. 'But I look at it differently. This is an opportunity for me to showcase Indian football , show the world what we can do. Whenever I go outside (the house), I meet a lot of kids who are amazed that I'll play for West Ham at TST. They want to do that one day.' Not everyone gets to play at TST, dubbed the most exciting and highest stakes 7v7 football festival in the world, where legends, celebrities, and professionals battle for the prize money of a million dollars. At West Ham, Rahul will be joined by club legend Anton Ferdinand as player-coach, former Wales international James Collins, besides teammates Ricardo Vaz Te (Portugal) and Mauro Zarate (Argentina). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Rahul, 25, is the only player from Asia in the team and the first Indian to feature for the Premier League club at TST. 'West Ham were looking to recruit a player from Asia. For me, Rahul stood out as the ideal candidate as he is one of the most exciting young talents in India, with all the attributes required to succeed in European football. I also saw this as a pivotal chance to help an Indian player make an international impact and, in addition, help put Indian football firmly on the global map,' said Odisha CEO Raj Athwal, who was approached by the EPL club due to his longstanding involvement in English football. For Rahul, it's a dream come true. 'It's a big move because growing up as a kid, I always dreamed about playing for a big club in Europe. When you start playing football, big European clubs come to mind. You want to wear their jersey, represent them, go out there and play. I want to make an impression, hopefully also inspire a generation (of Indian players),' said Rahul. At TST, the Indian winger will rub shoulders with some big names which includes the likes of Argentina legend Sergio Aguero, Portugal's Luis Nani and Italian maverick Mario Balotelli, all playing for Aguero Team. Rahul wants to put his best foot forward and ensure that he grab, with both hands, whatever opportunities the event throws at him. 'It's not just a 7v7 tournament. It's a place where some big names will assemble. Maybe I can get some contacts, talk to people, get a trial, or even a chance to train with West Ham in London,' said Rahul, who has made seven appearances for the senior national team. Despite featuring at TST for the first time, Rahul is unlikely to feel out of place. He's grown up playing Sevens, a cultural staple in Kerala, where football rests high up on social priorities. He himself hails from Thrissur in northern Kerala, a region where Sevens is a way of life. 'I can never forget where I come from,' said Rahul. 'I wouldn't have been here if there was no Sevens in Kerala. I wouldn't have been here if there was no five or three-a-side football because I wasn't born as an ISL or national team player. Sevens helped me a lot. It made me physically strong, helped lose fear since we were up against bigger players, involved in duels all the time. As a kid, we never dreamed of playing for the national team or club, it was always Sevens. We always thought about Sevens and floodlight football.' For Rahul, Sevens football now takes an entirely different meaning.
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First Post
24-05-2025
- Sport
- First Post
Who is Rahul KP, the Indian footballer in English club West Ham's squad for USA tournament?
Indian footballer Rahul KP created history as he was picked by the English Premier League team West Ham for a seven-a-side tournament in the USA. read more Indian footballer Rahul KP has become the first from the country to join a Premier League team as West Ham United announced on Friday that the Kerala player will play for them in the upcoming TST seven-a-side tournament in the United States. It has to be noted that Rahul KP has not joined the Premier League team of West Ham, but he will be playing for the Hammers in a seven-a-side tournament. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD What is TST 2025 in which Rahul KP will play? TST is a seven-a-side association football tournament played in the United States. The TST 2025 will be played at Cary, North Carolina. The men's event will include 48 teams, while 16 sides will feature in the women's event. Both men's and women's events have a mega prize pool of $1 million. A number of top European football clubs will be taking part in the TST 2025, including West Ham, Atletico Madrid, AFC Bournemouth and Borussia Dortmund. More from Football Rahul KP expressed his pleasure upon joining West Ham on Friday in a video shared by the club. 'Hello, Hammers fans, it's Rahul KP here. I'm excited to play for West Ham United at TST this summer. See you soon. Come on you Irons,' he said. Rahul KP is Claret & Blue ⚒️ Ready to represent the Hammers at TST this summer 🔥 — West Ham United (@WestHam) May 23, 2025 Who is Rahul KP? Rahul is a 25-year-old Indian footballer who has played seven matches for the national team. He hails from Thrissur in Kerala and plays as a winger for Odisha FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). Before moving to Odisha FC in the January transfer window of 2025, Rahul was with his home state team, Kerala Blasters. He played for them for over five seasons and was part of the team that finished runners-up in the 2021-22 season in the ISL Cup. Get to know our No7 at TST, Rahul KP 🇮🇳 — West Ham United (@WestHam) May 23, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Before making a name for himself in the ISL, Rahul first made headlines while playing for India in the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. This was the first time India played in a FIFA World Cup of any age group. His India senior debut came in 2022 under former coach Igor Stimac. Before joining ISL, Rahul played for Indian Arrows in the I-League.
