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Inderjeet Aujla is on his travels
INDERJEET AUJLA has done a lot in his football career in a short space of time.
The 23-year-old was picked up by the Bradford City academy at 14 and won the Young Player of the Year award in 2004/5.
But a year later, Aujla was released by his home town club. Still eager to succeed, Aujla went to America on a scholarship and took a trip to India to try out for East Bengal.
Aujla has since had spells with Guiseley AFC and Garforth Town in non-league football.
EE caught up recently with the well-travelled player in Belgium where he is currently plying his trade with Royal Racing FC Montegnee...
How did you first get into football?
I got into football through my family, who are crazy about it. We had a car park near my house and I used to play there every day from when I was six years old.
I read a flyer at my old primary school about trials for a Sunday league team called Queensbury Celtic Under-9s. I went there with my dad and cousin and that was the start of my footballing education.
At 12, I was asked to go for a Bradford Schoolboys trial by my PE teacher and ended up playing for them for three years. Most of the lads from the team were signed by Bradford City. I was given a trial but I didn't make it because I was too slow. Then they asked me again at 14 and they signed me.
What was the academy life like at Bradford City? Did you play with any other Asian players while you were there?
Academy life was great! I remember starting to enjoy my football in a professional environment.
With regards to Asian players, there were a couple of trialists but they never made it. And I can't remember...