Sacrifices made will not go unrewarded: India goalie
NEW DELHI: India’s first-choice goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh on Tuesday expressed confidence that the hard work he has put in and the sacrifices he made will be rewarded in the form of impressive performances in the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
The Manipuri boy is excited to be a part of India’s first-ever World Cup team. “All my days of sacrifice and hard work will be rewarded and I am very much excited to be a part of the first Indian team to feature in a FIFA World Cup,” Dheeraj said.
Dheeraj, who hails from Moirang in Bishnupur district, said he prefers to strike a balance between aggressive goalkeeping and composed goalkeeping. “You have to pick your moments and chose what type of goalkeeping will suit the moment. Sometimes aggressive goalkeeping can lead to difficulties and even conceding a goal while composed goalkeeping could work and vice-versa. For a goalkeeper, both styles of goalkeeping are important.”
Asked how tough is a goalkeeper’s job, he said, “Staying in the moment is the job of a goalkeeper and a slight lack of focus or concentration can easily lead to a goal.
JEAKSON SET TO ROCK
The meagre family income pulled through by his vegetable-seller mother has Jeakson Singh worried often but the midfielder has put that at the back of his mind and is completely focused on the on World Cup. Jeakson, a defensive midfielder, hails from Haokha Mamang village in Manipur’s. His father Konthoujam Deben Singh suffered a stroke in 2015 and had to leave his job with the Manipur police.
His family is now dependent on the income of his mother who sells vegetables at the Khwairamband Bazar in Imphal, 25km from home.
“When I left home for Chandigarh in 2010, it was alright. But my father had a stroke. My mother sells vegetables and that is the family income ,” Jeakson said.
“I have been dreaming of playing for India since childhood and my life has changed. I am looking forward to wearing the India jersey in this World Cup. But I am worried about the condition of my family,” the 16-year-old said.
Jeakson’s elder brother Jonichand Singh is also a contributor to the income as he is playing for Peerless club in Kolkata Premier League.