‘From a Father’s Career-Ending Injury to Chasing India Dreams’: Story Of Football Journey Of Sonam Ghosh

In Arambagh, West Bengal, where days follow a quiet rhythm, happy-go-lucky Sonam Ghosh's story with football started in the background. Her journey did not kick off with a footballing dream, but with a habit she didn't even realise she would miss.

Born into a family of four, Sonam grew up watching her father head out regularly to play local football matches while managing a day job. Her father worked as a cable operator for a network, balancing long hours with his love for the game. Naturally, a young Sonam, aged 5, tagged along with her father, sitting on the sidelines and watching her father hit the ball on the pitch.

However, contrary to her father's wish, Sonam had little or no interest in what was unfolding on the pitch. For her, football still meant a job which was done by her father.

But all the rules of the game changed for her!

Father's Lost Dreams To Knee Injury

A knee injury forced her father to stop playing. The visits stopped. The matches disappeared. And somewhere in that silence, Sonam realised what she had lost. She missed the ground, the noise, the feeling of being around the game. What once meant nothing had suddenly begun to matter.

That's when she asked the question that changed her sporting journey forever, "Can I start playing football?"

To give you a context of Sonam's sporting history, the young girl started in Judo and was competitive and disciplined naturally. Ghosh decided to channelise this instinct into the pitch when she started in football. With the backing from her father and cousin, she took her baby steps into the world of football, far from the mats of Judo.

Initially, she started out as a defender, fearless and determined, always pushing herself to be better. At times, she not only did better than others, but also often outperformed the boys she played alongside.

But then, something shifted. And she found her calling in between the true goalposts!
Almost suddenly, she found herself drawn to goalkeeping... a position of responsibility, courage, and sharp instinct. And she embraced it fully.

Zinc Academy's Trial & Start Of Football Journey In Zawar

When she heard about the Zinc Football Academy trials happening in her hometown, although she was unsure, she didn't hesitate to go. With the support of her family and friends, she stepped in, gave it her all, and yes, she did earn her place. Selection wasn't just a moment of joy; it was a validation for all her hard work.

In July 2025, Sonam became part of the very first batch of the Zinc Football Girls Academy. From there, life changed.

Moving to Udaipur meant leaving behind home, comfort, and familiarity. She misses it... especially the food, the flavours of Bengal that Rajasthan cannot quite replicate. But she understands the trade-off. Some sacrifices are part of chasing something bigger.

At the Academy in Zawar, Sonam found more than just training. She found structure, discipline, and belief. "It's been almost a year now at ZFA, and it's surprising when I realise how much I've developed... not just as a footballer, but as a person," she says.

That growth showed quickly.

U-16 National Trial Snub & Journey Ahead

The effect of proper training in Rajasthan was showing up in her performance, which improved by leaps and bounds. On March 1, 2026, Sonam received a call-up for the India Under-16 National Camp trials, in her very first year at the Academy. It was a moment she describes as being "over the moon." Training alongside some of the best young talents in the country, she got a glimpse of the level she aspires to reach.

However, Sonam did not make the final cut for the team. But, for a gritty Sonam, this was not the end, and she did not stop here either. "I promise myself to keep working harder, I won't stop here."

Back at the Academy, Sonam stood tall between the posts during Zinc Football Academy's historic campaign in the Rajasthan League Senior Women's A-Division 2025-26. With the youngest squad in the competition, the team went on to lift the title in their very first season.

At the heart of that success was Sonam. Five clean sheets in eight matches. Countless crucial saves. A calm presence under pressure. Performances that earned her the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award.

For someone so young, her journey already feels long. Nearly a decade connected to the game, and yet, it feels like she's only just getting started.

At home, her father dreams big, of seeing her wear the Indian jersey, and one day play on foreign soil, opening doors for many more like her. Her mother hopes for something just as powerful: independence, strength, and the ability to stand on her own feet. Sonam carries both dreams with her.

And somewhere between Arambagh and Zawar, between sacrifice and ambition, between missing home and building a future, a young goalkeeper has found her purpose.

And she's not letting it go that easily!