GUWAHATI, June 12: Anjana Saikia, who once played alongside the nation's top football talents, was instrumental in India's victory at the SAFF Women's Championship in 2014, a moment of pride for both her and Assam.

Now, twelve years later, the former Indian goalkeeper expresses feelings of exhaustion and uncertainty about her future.

"It's a continuous tale of hardship, pain, and doubt," Anjana shared.

Currently, she serves as a football coach under a contract with the Assam sports and youth welfare department, earning a monthly salary of Rs 20,000.

"After deductions, I receive around Rs 18,000, and sometimes we wait over a year for our salaries. You can imagine the situation," she explained.

For the last two years, Anjana has been associated with the Kakojan center in Jorhat, following a previous role in Guwahati.

"At times, I regret playing football and wish I had pursued a different path," she admitted. "I completed my degree hoping for a dignified life post-career, but that hasn't materialized. I often contemplate leaving the sport I once cherished and seeking other employment. It's truly disheartening."

She recounted an instance where she approached Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for better job opportunities, but unfortunately, it led to no results.

Many of her former teammates have secured stable jobs, including Bembem Devi, Bala Devi, Kamala Devi Yumnam, Prameshwori Devi Irom, and Panthoi Chanu.

"They have found roles as DSPs or in the Railways. While I am happy for them, it pains me to see my situation," she said.

Reflecting on her past, Anjana noted that financial struggles and a lack of awareness hindered her chances to represent India further. Despite being called for national trials at least seven times since 2014, circumstances always intervened.

"There were numerous challenges. At one point, my father had to spend Rs 50,000 to obtain my passport. We mortgaged our land to afford it, but the process was mishandled," she recounted.

Despite her achievements, including playing for Gokulam Kerala FC and competing in Uzbekistan in 2023, Anjana transitioned to coaching, hoping for better prospects, which unfortunately did not materialize.

She is recognized as the only female footballer from Assam to represent India and earn a medal at an international level, with no other woman from the state having played for the senior national team since her.

November 21, 2014, remains a significant date for her, marking India's 6-0 victory over Nepal in the SAFF Women's Championship final at Jinnah Sports Stadium in Islamabad. However, the years that followed have proven to be increasingly challenging.