This section features the trials, learnings and triumphs of students who took the decision to study overseas. For this feature, we spoke with V G Navaneeth, a 19-year-old international student from the city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India.
After completing his school education in 2020, Navaneeth took a gap year and came to the UK to study the EFL (English as a Foreign Language) programme at Chichester College, West Sussex, organised by Lurnable for KIFA (Karhya International Football Academy, India & UK). A young athlete with football as his one singular passion since he was twelve, Navaneeth was recently selected to play for the Hunston Community Club, a private, homegrown football club in Chichester – a feat even he did not foresee himself accomplishing, at least not within a few months of arriving in the UK.
When he finished school, Navaneeth and his family decided that a break from academics will do him good, and so he embarked on a gap year to explore opportunities in education beyond the traditional alternatives. He says it has done him a world of good, and his family agrees. He is now pursuing a Bsc (Hons) in Football Coaching and Performance at the University of Chichester, alongside playing football for Hunston.
We’re sharing his story with the hope that it will inspire students and families globally to be experimental in their approach to higher education and make educated choices that are based, foremost, on the student’s interests and aspirations.
YOU STARTED PLAYING FOOTBALL EARLY IN YOUR LIFE. IN INDIA PROFESSIONAL SPORTS IS STILL NOT CONSIDERED A VIABLE CAREER OPTION. WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE IT AS A CAREER?
I was quite young when I made the decision. The love and passion I felt towards the game made me think, why can’t I choose it as my career? If someone has done it before, I can too. As I played more, I became even more sure of my choice. I knew that if I do something I love, I will do it perfectly, I will give it my very best.
AFTER COMPLETING YOUR SCHOOL EDUCATION YOU TOOK A GAP YEAR AND CAME TO THE UK. WOULD YOU SAY THE DECISION HAS BEEN FRUITFUL?
I completed class 12 in humanities and started exploring my options. I told my parents I did not want to chase a college degree just for the sake of it. Thankfully, they agreed with me and told me I did not have to choose a ‘safe’ career.
Taking a year off has really been one of the best decisions of my life. At first, we planned to take it as a break year so that I could gather more information and figure out what exactly I wanted to study. I took up a short-term course in the UK to enhance my English-language skills, but within a couple of months here I was sure I wouldn’t be going back very soon.
Also, I got selected for my college football team, which was a big reason for me to want to stay back. My initial plan was to explore other universities for my undergrad, but I really started to like it here at Chichester College, so I think I’ll end up doing my graduation here.
NOT MANY FAMILIES IN INDIA ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA OF A GAP YEAR. HOW DID THIS COME ABOUT IN YOUR CASE?
Luckily, I didn’t need to convince my parents at all. They are by far the best parents. Ever since they learned how passionate I am about football, they’ve tried to give me the best of opportunities. Without the least bit of hesitation, they said okay to this plan and were willing to pay for it. They’ve always encouraged me to do what I love.
PLEASE TELL US WHY YOU OPTED FOR THE EFL COURSE IN PARTICULAR AND IF YOU FACED ANY PROBLEM GETTING ADJUSTED.
I was not a good English speaker and I needed a certain score in IELTS to enter uni. So I thought why not work on my language skills along with playing football. I didn’t really face a problem settling in. Rather, I found the facilitators to be very friendly and supportive – they encourage you to use the language rather than force you to learn the rules. This made the classes enjoyable and easy. My mother says she can already see a difference in my speaking skills.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING SELECTED TO PLAY FOR HUNSTON! PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT IT.
It was entirely my coach’s idea to apply. He suggested that I give it a try, so I went there and applied to train with the club. I trained with them for one month. I gave it my best shot but kept my expectations low, as it’s quite difficult to get a place on a local team. When I told my mother that they had offered to sign a contract with me, she couldn’t believe it. It was one big step in my dream career path.
LAST YEAR YOU TOOK AN ONLINE COURSE IN FOOTBALL COACHING. DID YOU HAVE ANY APPREHENSIONS ABOUT DOING AN IMPORTANT COURSE ONLINE?
When the lockdown struck, I enrolled with the Football Association of Wales and completed my FAW LEVEL 1 Football Coaching Award. I took this course because I wanted to learn the basics of coaching and explore it as a career option. It gave me a good understanding of coaching and team management. As for the experience, I did not have a problem with the online mode – in fact, I quite enjoyed it.
LIVING ABROAD ALL ON THEIR OWN CAN BE HARD FOR SOME STUDENTS. WHAT PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES OR HABITS HAVE HELPED YOU COPE?
I’ve stayed in a hostel for two years, so I’m a little used to being on my own. Also, since class 8 I’ve been travelling within India for interstate matches, though this is the first time I’ve travelled overseas.
It helps that I love solitude and spend most of my time in the playground. I’ve made some friends too, though I don’t like to hang out much. I live a disciplined life and make most of my meals in the hall kitchen, so food is also not much of a problem.
Obviously, I love my family and I talk to them regularly, but I’m happy here and my parents are happy with that.
CLEARLY, YOUR PASSION FOR FOOTBALL HAS BROUGHT YOU WHERE YOU ARE TODAY. WHAT HAS SO MANY YEARS OF BEING COMMITTED TO THE SPORT TAUGHT YOU?
Playing football takes me to a different world. Even when I was home, I was in the playground seven days a week and spent hours every day learning about football. I’ve spent hundreds of hours analysing the game.
The one thing I have learnt from football is that you will have your ups and downs – you can’t win all the matches – but what makes you unique is the way you come back. No matter how bad it gets, if you put your head down and hustle in the dark, you will find your way back.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE?
I’m planning to improve my game, coaching knowledge and experience. It’s been my childhood ambition to become a pro footballer and play in the Premier League – no Indian has done this before. I will do my undergrad and I hope I’ll find a way in the meantime.
To get a perspective of what went behind Navaneeth’s higher education decisions, we also spoke with his mother, Advocate Lakshmi Gopinathan.
DID YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCEPTING YOUR SON’S CHOICE OF CAREER?
I did. In the early years, I would keep telling him that it was alright to play football as a hobby but not as a career. It was on one rainy evening, when we sat together having coffee, that I finally got convinced that this boy was serious about football. He asked me what I loved to do in the rain. I said I loved listening to the legend Ilaiyaraaja and drinking coffee. ‘And I love playing football in the rain,’ he said. He asked me why I was running after normal professions for him and why he couldn’t make a career in football.
This conversation changed my mind once and for all. After that, I made it my mission to get him the best facilities and opportunities I could. The first thing I did was to get him proper gear – a pair of good football boots.
When he got selected to represent the Tamil Nadu Mini Football Association at the state-level tournament in Delhi, we knew he had a future as a professional footballer.
After he cleared class 10, we changed schools so that he could focus more on football. He chose humanities, which too gave him more time for football.
HOW DID YOU AGREE TO HIM TAKING A GAP YEAR AFTER CLASS 12?
Navaneeth was very clear that his college education had to be focused on football, but we were not quite sure what he should do. We started looking for options and ultimately figured that it would be best if he takes a break than make a hurried choice.
WHY CHICHESTER COLLEGE?
In fact, we hadn’t really considered overseas as an option, mainly because we didn’t know what course he should choose or where he should go, and also the expense was a deterrent.
During our research, we came in touch with a gentleman named Mr N Balasubramaniam, who has dedicated his life to football. He recommended that we speak with Ms Nithya Prabu in case we were looking for guidance on higher education. I contacted her and we fixed up a call.
This phone call changed my perspective. Ms Prabu patiently answered all my questions. She didn’t sugar-coat anything and spoke to me as a friend. Talking to her took away all my fear of sending my son abroad, and helped us understand what this would mean for us emotionally and financially. Ultimately, the decision was ours to make, and from among her recommendations, we chose the EFL programme at Chichester.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO SEND YOUR YOUNG CHILD OVERSEAS?
I will not say it’s easy – in fact, we hadn’t even used our passports even once until now – but it becomes easier with time. We miss him a lot, but it’s a decision we took as a family when it was clear that this was what would make him happy.
I feel somehow the last two years of his schooling in Chennai, away from home, prepared us for this. We’re just happy that he is getting the opportunities he wished for. He chose this path – first the break year and then a career in sports – despite being warned against it by friends, family and even some of his teachers. I’m sure he’ll be fine!
ANYTHING YOU’D LIKE TO SAY TO THE PARENTS READING THIS INTERVIEW?
I firmly believe in these words by Rumi: ‘What you seek is seeking you.’ What I have learned is that if we just support our kids in the career they choose, they will find a way to succeed, because it’s something they have chosen. They will give it their hundred per cent. After all, it is their sky and they know how to fly.
If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?
