Singh sets sights on more success with Bayern
New Zealand football star Sarpreet Singh is eyeing more success with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich after playing a cameo role in their titlewinning season.
The 21-year-old Aucklander made just two appearances for the German powerhouse club as Bayern secured a recordextending eighth consecutive Bundesliga crown. They finished 13 points clear of their nearest rivals, Borussia Dortmund.
Singh made his debut as a late substitute against Werder Bremen in December before earning his first start against Freiburg earlier last month.
An unused substitute in the match, he collected his winner’s medal after Bayern beat Wolfsburg 4-0 on the weekend and joined in the celebrations with the rest of the squad.
‘‘It’s a dream come true for me to win my first Bundesliga title,’’ Singh said. ‘‘It’s a huge moment for me.
‘‘Growing up in New Zealand, I always looked up to Europe and wanted to play at the highest level here.’’
Working hard behind the scenes, Singh said the success of his superstar team-mates is motivating him to become a better player in the hope he can play a bigger part next season.
‘‘I’ve only been in Europe for one year now, there’s still plenty of time for me,’’ he said.
‘‘Players here have been here for many years and they have experienced many wins and successes so I am in the perfect environment where I can learn off them, and for me I want to continue to learn and to grow and to improve myself.
‘‘I look at the boys that are playing week in and week out and how professional they are and that’s why they play. For me it is perfect to see what they do before training, after training and the extras that go into it and the amount of hard work they put into it.’’
Singh is the first Kiwi to win the Bundesliga since Wynton Rufer scored 17 goals to spearhead Werder Bremen’s championship charge during the 1992-93 season.
He said his family back in New Zealand were proud of what he has achieved in the 12 months since joining Bayern from Wellington Phoenix.
‘‘My family are extremely happy for me but at the same time they want me to push to get more and more.’’