One of Bengal’s most talented female footballers, Mousumi Murmu, is already a star. By scoring 13 goals in the Kolkata Premier Women’s Football League this season, she caught the attention of the football community. The Khelo India Youth Women’s Football Championship was then held at Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh, where Mousumi Murmu put up another excellent performance while sporting a Bengal women’s shirt. Before losing to Manipur, they had made it to the final for the first time in the previous five years. However, Mousumi put up a strong performance in the competition, scoring four goals while manning the striker position. The 18-year-old attacker then competed for India in the just-completed AFC under-20 competition. Scroll down to read Mousumi Murmu Biography.
Mousumi Murmu Biography
Mousumi Murmu: The Beginning
Mousumi is originally from Salboni, a small hamlet in West Bengal’s West Midnapore district. Sujit Murmu, her father, struggles to make ends meet by working sporadically in agriculture. The youngster used to participate in sports since her mother, Arati Murmu, who competed in district competitions, captivated her. Later, encouraged by her older brother Subrata Murmu, Mousumi switched from athletics to football and began learning the fundamentals of the game from an enthusiastic local coach named Narayan Singh alongside her brother. Later, she worked out at Salboni Jagoron nightclub.
Mousumi remarked, “I gained strength, endurance, and stamina by playing with bigger males, which benefited me when I began playing with the girls. I was trained under Narayan Singh’s guidance.”
The Acclamation
In 2017, Mousumi relocated to Kolkata from Salboni after signing with the Police Club. She participated in every game for Police in the women’s football league and received praise from the teams in Kolkata and the coaches. Following that, East Bengal recruited the striker for their women’s football squad a few years ago.
When discussing how her game was progressing, Mousumi commented,
“I’m still getting better. Sujata Kar, a former East Bengal player and coach who is now the current head coach of the senior women’s Bengal team, is teaching me a lot. Given that Sujata Madam was a successful striker in her day as well, it has been easier for me to understand the tactics of the game, particularly those of a striker. My ability to move quickly and score within the box has increased more than before. I’ll need to work on my mobility off the ball.”
During her time with the national squad, Mousumi received acclaim from Maymol Rockey, the head coach of the under-20 national women’s team.
Mousumi remarked, “The coach appreciated my genuineness and effort on the pitch as well. She specifically criticized my pace down the flanks and suggested I accelerate even more.”
Fascination for Neymar
Neymar Da Silva, a Brazilian celebrity, is a devoted follower of Mousumi. When asked about her obsession with the star, she said, “Whenever I have time, I frequently watch training videos of Neymar. In addition, I attempt to incorporate his dribbling technique and off-the-mark pace into my workouts.”
Mousumi Murmu’s Desire
Mousumi aspires to play for the senior Indian women’s squad. But more than that, the striker seemed driven to establish herself as a professional football player to make a commendable sum of money.
She stated: “We continue to reside in a mud hut. It is something I want to rebuild as a concrete structure.”