Keepers are more than just stoppers: Kaith

With a couple of clean sheets and stellar saves inalmost every match, Vishal Kaith is fast becoming FC Pune City’s key cog. After having cooled his heels on the bench for all of the 2016 season, Kaith is now a starter in the Ranko Popovic-managed orange and purple brigade.

He is not complaining though. “Last season I was on the bench as Edel (Bete) and Arindam (Bhattacharya) were playing, but training and seeing them train I learnt a lot about the game and it helped me during I-League,” explains the 21-year old.  Kaith took his lessons back to I-League, and it paid rich dividends, bagging him four player of the match awards in 18 appearances, helping his Shillong Lajong to their best-ever finish.

Making the most of his chances for FC Pune City, in six matches, Kaith has got three clean slates. “It's my first season where I am starting for the team, so I make sure I play smartly and communicate well. My sole aim in this season is to play better and grow,” says Kaith, whose ultimate goal is to don the senior national colours.

Having represented India at U-16 and U-19 level, Kaith was then hand picked for the AIFF Elite Academy in 2013. His progress there was pretty impressive, and earned him a move to Shillong Lajong FC before getting picked by FC Pune City.

“I want to give my best in the league and I also want to work towards my game so that I can make the cut for the senior national team,” he said. “My long-term goal is to grow after every game and make myself good enough to play for an international club some day.”

Kaith picked up goalkeeping after watching Iker Casillas. Seeing the 6foot 1inch in Spanish turning out to be one of the most successful stoppers in the history of the game, he decided to emulate his hero. Though, from the current lot, he loves Peter Cech. The 6 foot 2inch in youngster feels that the role of goalkeepers has evolved to become more offensive in nature than ever.

In a club where a coach expects his side to score one goal more than his opponents, Kaith never shies away from playing a high line in defence, and becoming a sweeper keeper to attack from the back.

“The role of a goalkeeper has changed from being just a stopper to also attacking. We are no longer just the final line of defence, we are expected to build attacks,” he explains. “Because our mentality in this team (FC Pune City) is to score a goal more than our opponents, so everyone including goalkeeper has to play a part in it. The moment your opponents aren't doing this, your team has an advantage.” With this mentality and the performance to back it it won’t be too long before Kaith becomes a part of the long-term plans of national squad.

India National coach Stephen Constantine has kept a keen eye on the custodian, and had called the youngster up to national team squad. In July 2017, Constantine called Kaith for the Indian U23 team that played in Singapore. Until the Senior Blues come, Kaith is happy to don the Orange and Purple.