Sanju Pradhan (born 11 March 1989) is an Indian footballer who plays as a winger for Bhawanipore FC in the CFL Premier A. Pradhan has won all the major domestic tournaments available in India besides the I-League while playing for East Bengal; he has won 2 Federation Cups in 2009–10 and 2012 while he also has won 1 Indian Super Cup with the club in 2011. Pradhan recently became the Technical Partner for Kipsta (Decathlon Sports India) in 2016. Career Early career Hailing from a Nepali Newar family, Pradhan was born to D.B. Pradhan and Sarda Pradhan on 15 August 1989 in the village of Sombaria which is located in the West Sikkim district of the Indian state of Sikkim which is located in North East India. Pradhan gained a liking to football at a young age through watching people in his village play the game in their free time. During his child years Pradhan had to play at the school level but because his school did not have a team he had to play for other teams. He then attended the trials for the "Search for more Bhaichungs" at the West Sikkim district headquarters. After impressing Pradhan was selected to attend the statewide trials for the program in Gangtok where he passed as well and was one of 30 boys selected from the trial. In April 1999 the boys were sent to the Namchi Sports Hostel Football Academy where they participated in the Subroto Cup every year. Pradhan was also selected by the Sikkim football team at junior level. In 2006 Pradhan joined the Sports Academy of Sikkim after he and the other boys were sent there. That same year Pradhan, along with teammate Nirmal Chettri, was invited for a trial with Prayag United S.C. of Kolkata but neither player passed the trial. Then in October 2006, after a great performance in the All India Governors Gold Cup Football Tournament for the Sports Academy of Sikkim, Pradhan was scouted by then Air India FC coach Bimal Ghosh and was offered a chance to join the current I-League team. After going through then Sports Minister, P.S. Golay, Pradhan signed with Air India. East Bengal After spending two years at Air India FC Pradhan signed for East Bengal F.C. who also play in the I-League in 2008. Pradhan scored his first goal for the Red and Gold on 7 February 2009