Rohan Luthra reveals aim to keep inspiring people after his historic appearance in the Championship

In Preston last weekend, the moment Cardiff goalkeeper Rohan Luthra had worked for years for finally arrived. It was really happening. And suddenly, things became very surreal.

“It felt like one of those old school Nike ads where the old man has the GoPro on his chest or on his head,” he laughed.

‘They’re looking around, looking down at doing skills, they’re looking around the stadium.

“I remember running around trying to fix my gloves, and as I was running, I was like ‘oh my gosh, it feels exactly like that. I’m actually here. I’ve actually managed to get into the field.’

Jak Alnwick’s sacking in the 90th minute paved the way for Luthra to make his professional debut in the closing stages, adding: “It was strange.

I always thought that when the day came I would be nervous, but I guess it all happened quickly. I didn’t have time to be nervous. It was great.’

Luthra’s appearance was not only a great moment and a source of pride for him and his family, but also for the community at large.

Appearing at Preston, Luthra, who is of Indian descent, became the first goalkeeper from Britain’s South Asian community to play in the Championship.

He said: ‘It’s nice to have something like that, a piece of history. I hope I can continue to do it and I hope I continue to inspire people to want to do the same.

‘Help impact someone’s life, perhaps giving them that extra push and deciding ‘this is what I want to do’.’

Although Luthra also hopes that eventually occasions like last Saturday won’t be as remarkable.

Luthra, who speaks with a maturity well beyond her 20s, said: ‘It shouldn’t be South Asia first, first this, first that for anyone.

“I guess that’s the way it is now and hopefully in the future, towards the end of my career, I can be perceived as just a goalkeeper and not just a South Asian goalkeeper.”

Luthra comes from a family of professionals and although the importance of education was stressed, he was always encouraged to pursue his passions and his football dreams were well supported by his family including father Sunny and mother Zuby.

“Without them, I wouldn’t be anywhere,” she said of her parents.

Luthra is breaking down barriers and shattering stereotypes, both about her chosen position and her profession, on her way to try and achieve her dreams.

And reflecting on how things have evolved with regard to representation, he said: ‘A slight change is taking place.

‘I can see younger kids starting out in the South Asian community getting involved and wanting to make a career in football. It’s good to see him because as a kid I remember playing many years of youth soccer and never, ever, never saw anyone who looked like me.

‘When I was very young, there was never really that thing that clicked in my head like ‘there’s no one like me’.

“The older I got, the more I started to notice it, especially going to school in Croydon, where there are a lot of different people with different backgrounds and I think, ‘true, most people don’t look like me’.”

“The first time I saw someone, I was surprised, disconcerted. I couldn’t believe someone of South Asian origin would play football and it’s horrible for me to think that.

‘Since I came to Cardiff it’s been great. I never once thought “I look different from everyone else” or “nobody is like me”. Everyone has welcomed me and has been very good to me.

Luthra was never intimidated by the lack of resemblance around her in her youth.

And along with his parents, Colin Barnes, Palace academy head recruiter, a mentor he first met at Reading pre-academy and later met at the Selhurst Park club, was also a pivotal figure.

“He made me see that how I look doesn’t matter,” said Luthra, a 6-foot-5 stopper. ‘As long as I work hard, anything can happen. I think he realized that with a little work I could make something of my career. I still talk to him every week now. Such an important part in my career and my life really. I don’t just talk about football, I talk about life with him. Immediately after [Preston] I called him and he was very happy for me.

Luthra was also a talented goalkeeper-batsman and footballer when he was younger, playing for Surrey from the age of nine to 16.

In one summer, he came just one cricket final victory away from winning national titles for his county in both sports.

Arsenal were among the clubs he spent time with in his early academy years, where Luthra played under Bukayo Saka.

“He was around seven years old, but still everyone knew wow, this guy could be something special. Obviously now it’s something special.

England star Saka was the first of a series of notable names for Luthra to play with.

Palace’s reputation for producing young talent such as Victor Moses, Nathaniel Clyne and Wilfried Zaha saw Luthra officially join them as under-9s.

While there, Luthra made his under-18 debut at 15 and now Chelsea winger Noni Madueke was among his academy peers.

Luthra also attended the renowned Whitgift School, Croydon, where he played alongside Bayern Munich wunderkind Jamal Musiala, Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi and Manchester United youngster Di’Shon Bernard.

“It was nice to have Callum and Di’Shon at the same school, on the same teams as me,” he smiled.

“If Callum’s there, you’ll always play second fiddle, but when you have someone that good, you don’t really care.” You let them do their job and bring the magic.

One of only two goalkeepers featured in England’s top two divisions this season to be eligible for the England under-21 squad next term, Luthra has also worn the Three Lions at under-15 level alongside the likes of Jude Bellingham, Musiala and Madueke. another indication of his potential.

Now in Cardiff, whom he chose over Brentford after leaving Palace in 2021, and closer to being able to demonstrate that more often on the senior stage, Luthra said: “Ultimately I want to look back on my career in about 30 years”. time and be proud of it. I want to know that I have pushed myself to the highest level that I can go to and reach my potential. The potential that everyone tells me I have.

“I think I’m lucky in the sense that I never let things get to my head. I am quite a sensible person, very calm. “So if I keep working the way I am and have the mindset that I have, nothing can stop me from getting to where I need to go.”