The festive season in Hyderabad is set to receive a monumental sporting boost with the arrival of global football icon Lionel Messi on December 13. While the city buzzes with anticipation, for Guguloth Soumya, the only Telugu player carrying Hyderabad's football legacy forward, the focus remains on the pitch in Kathmandu.
A Ronaldo Fan Welcomes Messi's Impact
Soumya, a devoted fan of Messi's rival Cristiano Ronaldo, believes the Argentine maestro's visit will significantly accelerate football's growth in Telangana. "Though I am a big fan of Ronaldo, I like watching Messi's games as well. The way he guided his team to World Cup victory in Doha was simply sensational," she said. The right winger for the Indian national team and East Bengal will, however, miss the event, as she competes in the SAFF Club Championship in Kathmandu starting Friday.
Her absence from the Messi spectacle, where Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy plans a grand showcase, marks another chapter in her dedicated career. Instead, Soumya hopes for a peaceful return to Kathmandu's Dasarth Stadium, a venue holding traumatic memories.
Overcoming Earthquake Trauma to Pursue Football
A decade ago, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal while Soumya was there with the India U-14 team. The disaster claimed nearly 9,000 lives. "We watched in horror as buildings collapsed all around," she recalled. Soumya suffered an eye injury during the chaos. The experience was so harrowing that her family in Nizamabad considered pulling her out of the sport. "We all hugged her and cried and decided against allowing her to play football," her father, Guguloth Gopi, recounted.
However, her childhood coach, Gottipati Nagaraj, a physical education teacher, saw exceptional potential in Soumya's 'bursts of speed.' He, along with senior girls at the academy, persuaded her reluctant parents to let her continue. "Initially, my parents were dead against me joining the academy. But they relented thanks to my coach," Soumya acknowledged.
Rising Through the Ranks to International Acclaim
Her talent soon became undeniable. Stellar performances in School Games Federation tournaments earned her a spot in the Indian U-14 team, followed by progression through the U-16 and U-19 squads. She made her senior debut for India in 2021.
Soumya's career reached new heights with a professional stint at ZNK Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia during the 2022-23 season, where she even scored in the Croatian Women's Football Cup pre-quarterfinals. "It was a different experience and took my game to another level," she said.
Back home, her exploits include winning the AIFF best player award and finishing as the third-highest scorer in the Indian Women's League (IWL). A crucial goal against defending champions Odisha FC helped East Bengal clinch the championship title.
"Winning the AIFF best player award is the most cherished moment of my life so far," Soumya stated. "I want to score more goals for my country." As Messi inspires Hyderabad, Soumya Guguloth continues to inspire a generation, proving resilience and skill can define a legacy far beyond a single match or event.
