Mum missed Singh’s debut
Sarpreet Singh’s Bundesliga debut was so unexpected his mum didn’t get a chance to see it.
The 21-year-old New Zealand international made his first official appearance for German giants Bayern Munich in a 6-1 thumping of Werder Bremen in December.
Singh replaced Brazilian superstar Philippe Coutinho, who scored a hat-trick and registered two assists, and made several touches during his eight minute cameo.
‘‘Not many people can say they replaced Coutinho after one of his masterclasses,’’ Singh said. ‘‘It was something that will stick with me forever.’’
But despite sitting on the bench in the previous two games, Singh was so stunned by his call-up that he didn’t have time to tell his family back in New Zealand that he was going to play. Due to the time difference, they were fast asleep.
‘‘I don’t even think my mum was awake for the game,’’ he said.
‘‘I actually had to call her a few hours later to tell her and she was quite angry I didn’t tell her I was going to play. But I didn’t know if I was going to get on or not.’’
By making his competitive debut for Bayern, Singh became the first New
‘‘Not many people can say they replaced Coutinho after one of his masterclasses. It was something that will stick with me forever.’’ Sarpreet Singh
Zealander to feature in the Bundesliga since Oceania player of the century Wynton Rufer, who played, coincidentally, for Bremen from 1989 to 1995.
‘‘It was a very special moment for me,’’ he said. ‘‘I was extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to make my debut.
‘‘As a young kid growing up in New Zealand this is what you want to do, you look to the best teams in the world and you want to play there one day.’’
Singh joined Bayern from Wellington Phoenix in July and although he signed with the club’s reserve team, who play in
Germany’s 3.Liga competition, was recently promoted to train with the first team on a regular basis when Hansi Flick replaced Niko Kovac as manager.
‘‘I think sometimes in teams when the youth players go up with the first team you can kind of tell they’re youth players but with this trainer he’s given us confidence to feel like we’re one of them.
‘‘Everything you do is the same as the first team players, we have the same goals and we fight to play with them or ahead of them.
‘‘There’s a difference in the way he includes us all in the trainings and it’s definitely positive and very good news for the younger players. There’s always opportunities, if you do well then you’re going to get your chance.’’