It was the first time in his football career that Ian Hume, the Canadian striker of Athletico De Kolkata (ATK) had a rare opportunity to leave the field, bagging the ball that was played in Sunday’s ISL match in Mumbai where ATK humbled Mumbai City 4-1.
Ian Hume was chosen man-of-the-match on Sunday’s match for scoring the hat-trick and he was asked by his mates to leave the field with the ball. But despite having been awarded the best footballer in a professional match for the first time in his last-16 year career, Hume did not seem to be ecstatic.
Rather he said over phone from Mumbai, “It is not that I am not happy. It has been my first man-of-the-match award in a professional tournament in my last 16 years of career. But at the same time we should not be complacent at all. Winning against Mumbai we have moved up the fifth place in the League table. And we must have to continue winning in our next match against North East United at home. So, now it is not the time to do party.”
Hume said mental courage has always been his actual strength to continue his career. He added saying, “When I was playing for English club Barnsley FC a couple of years ago, I got a severe head injury in the match against Shefield United. Doctors even suggested me to stop career. But I came back to the ground, by the help of my mental courage.” Hume now wants to go home with the ball after the end of ISL this season.