In August 1996, David Beckham rose to stardom when he caught the Wimbledon goalkeeper off his line and scored from the half-way line. He was then 21-years-old playing for Manchester United.
“Can you believe what we have just seen…”, was the exclamation from the commentators when Patrick Schick sent a 45 yarder into Scotland’s goal. Earlier this month Joel Ideho, Arsenal’s talented youngster scored a 45 yarder Beckhamesque goal which made global headlines. It was a feat much appreciated.
The technique, the awareness, the strength, and that intuition required to pull that trigger for professional footballers is found to startle spectators and football lovers all over the world.
Here in Perth, after spending the first half of the year rehabilitating from a stress fracture of his back and bilateral labrum fractures of his hip, Praneel Mukherjee, at 16 years of age, returned to his first injury free game, a top of the table clash in the U18 age group Div 1 League.
Early in the half, he noticed the goalkeeper rushed out to defend one of his through passes – something he saved into his random access memory (RAM). A few minutes later, he pounced on a ball bouncing on the halfway line and let fly a half-volley. Travelling 50 yards and escorted by the retreating awestruck goalkeeper, it bounces just across the line.
There is a scream, then an uproar from his teammates and the handful of parents watching along with his coaches. The hands on the heads, even from his own goalkeeper tells a story. There is no media, there is no crowd but behind the camera, there are skipped beats and a tear shed, purely because, I almost did not make it to the game.
It is pure celebration that his goal deserves even more than those of the professional footballers who practice hours on end to achieve it. A fluke, you may say, but he did it when he was 14 years old, playing for the same club in Perth, Western Australia.
Most professional footballers would be happy having scored one such long ranger in their careers. Praneel has now done it twice. Perhaps if he repeats it, I’ll call it a habit.
As a father watching him desperately struggle for the first seven months of the year with fearsome injuries, I celebrate the fortune of seeing him smile with radiance after the match. His achievement of two long range goals on full-size football pitches are to be celebrated and will bring a smile to my face for years to come. I share these videos and encourage parents to record their children’s activities regularly—you never know when they deliver that little bit of magic!
Watch Praneel Mukherjee’s dream scores
Another outrageous goal from the half-way line by 16-yr-old Praneel
Below, outrageous goal from half-way line by then 14-yr-old Praneel
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After spending the 1st half of the year rehabilitating from injuries, 16-yr-old Praneel Mukherjee, returned to his first injury free game, a top of the table clash in the U18 age group Div 1 League. ⚽ #TheIndianSun #Footballhttps://t.co/1ys4DedIcj
— The Indian Sun (@The_Indian_Sun) August 24, 2022
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