I think mutineer Fuerza Dulce said it best when she emailed us this tip:
A brown girl fighting for the world cup? Sweet.
Word!
Hold up, hey–I have to write an entire post? Truly, 20-year old midfielder Anoop Josan is so fantastic that I shouldn’t have to, but FINE. Be that way. Just EXPECT me to paste stuff, why don’t you…
From the official University of Texas, El Paso athletic site:
UTEP junior midfield Anoop Josan has passed through the final roster cuts for Team Canada, and will help her country fight for the championship at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008 from Nov. 19-Dec. 7. The placement to the squad will afford Josan the opportunity to showcase her talents on one of the highest stages in the sport.
The native of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, who is redshirting this year in order to compete at the prestigious event, is no stranger to the international stage. She was a member of the Canadian Olympic Development Team that won the 2007 International Soccer Festival. Furthermore, she has worked out and gained experience at the National Training Center. She also competed at the 2005 adidas cup as a member of the U-18 national team and for the U-17 development team.
“I am so proud of Anoop making the Canadian Under-20 World Cup team,†UTEP head coach Kevin Cross said. “It is a dream come true for her, and she has worked her whole life for this opportunity to represent her country. Not only is she representing Team Canada, but she is also representing the UTEP Soccer program very well.†[UTEP]
Oh, she’s representing all right. GO AJ! <—That would be her nickname. A nickname I think very highly of. Ahem. 😉
I discovered that bit of Anoop Josan-trivia here, where I ganked the rest of this disjointed information:
…both of her parents were born in India… grew up playing volleyball, tennis, soccer… enjoys watching movies… speaks English and Punjabi… [link]
And once she’s done with the wonderful world cup?
Josan will once again take the pitch for the Miners in 2009, and Cross’ charges will certainly be glad to have her back. She has been an instrumental member of the squad since venturing to the Sun City. In 2006 Josan tallied the second-highest single-season assist total (14) in program history on the way to earning freshman All-America honors. Last year, Josan started 18 of 21 matches. She racked up three goals and three assists for nine points.[UTEP]
Random aside #1- Before this story, I had never encountered a girl named Anoop. I like it. I like that it’s different. Unexpected. Well, to me, anyway. Less random aside #2- brown girls who play soccer are teh hawt. Thanks for the tip, FD!
that is hella awesome. Going to have to keep a look out for her. The women’s game needs a bit of Indian spice. The men’s needs some Indian spice too. i hope she keeps it up in the pro leagues. Lets hope she becomes the women’s FOOTBALL’s Zidane (without the dodgy hair).
5:45 !! Seriously Anna….!
Good job all three of you(the Anna,the tipster and the Anoop )
To add to the random asides, I know someone else named Anoop….only he(yes) spells it as Anup….I think it’s much better with the double O’s.
Disgusting bits edited by SM Intern
I am only 2 years older, I am canadian, we are both punjabi…. I would like to send a formal request to SM to locate her phone number, relationship status, a list of her likes/dislikes and send them to me.
Paging SM Intern please.This is beyond disgusting (the part in Punjabi that is,the rest is just plain stupid)
Seriously, just delete that stuff, what a vulgar little creep ^^^^
Thanks for the post, but MOREOVER, thank you for not referencing Bend It Like Beckham in any way, shape, or form. I was a little reticent clicking over, but pleased that that terrible movie isn’t a spectre in the coverage of Anoop (at least, not here at SM). On the other hand, please keep the Dre allusions flowing fast!
4 · nfa said
What? Hi! I swear I wasn’t sleeping! Please disregard the mosaic-like appearance of my face, which was never smooshed against this keyboard, like EVER.
Duly deleted.
I would really like to know what got deleted. It must of been something epic because I never seen such panic.
Please repost what the guy said. Pleasssssssssssssssssssssssse!
Honestly, I didn’t even think of Bend It Like Beckham which I think goes to show how far Anoop is already taking us out of cliches. I know a guy Anoop – I’ve always liked the name. According to SikhiWiki, it means “Matchless beauty”. 🙂 My friend had a shoutout to AJ in her gmail status-thing and I had to look her up. I love seeing brown female athlete – maybe because I have no athletic ability and I also don’t often see brown female athletes (especially not on an international level). Plus, soccer is gangster. I wonder if she fights like a soccer hooligan, too.
a tip for you old baingan, i keep a little pillow for the purpose and crash into it for power naps on the allnighters. another tip, avoid those fancy-shmancy ones with the coarse cloth and the linings and the tassels. nothing funnier than the imprnt of a tassel or a floral against ones nose. [done that]. experience suggests soft cotton pillows are the best. plus they suck the drool quite well. i hope you have been suitably distracted, because i just snuck those nilla wafers away with my left hand. haha.
go anoop. bring home the cup. rajmah chawl power all the way.
her Canadian teammate has an interesting story as well
I believe you, the damage that you cause to your keyboard is probably more chemical than mechanical.
hey anna, I play soccer.
just kidding, I’m too effing lazy.
Need more female indo athletes and please infiltrate the United States and the D1 programs. First time I heard a female named Anoop as well, never was fond of any of the dudes named Anoop, this is a good thing.
To keep you all posted they lost there first game 2-0 BUT ANOOP played the full 90 minutes and her coach and the rest of the world said she played the best.. WHICH SHE DID. her next game is the 23rd of november against CONGO and it is televised on CBC. Check it out.
Anoop you are an excellent player and brown
thats the cool
Anoop was awesome during the games!!! She played the full 90 mins each game and really made us Punjabi Indians proud!!! You kick ass!!! We need more brown girls in sports!!!!
Hi anoop my name’s anoop too iam a punjabi boy living in punjab india ive read others coment for u. i wanna say u that u r doing a great job, i like u b’coz we have the same name and u r taking our name infront of the whole word, may god bless u, when i’ll go canada i would like to meet u. Take care bye