Playing in Europe is a better choice: Sandhu
India national football team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels continuing to play in a European league will benefit him as well as Indian football.
When asked if he would consider returning to play in India should the proposed three-tier Indian league format get underway, Sandhu said: “I believe playing in Europe is a better choice because it is going to help me become a better player and help India if Indian players were to motivate themselves to be at that level. That’s where we want to be, and not playing in India.”
Sandhu is the only player in the Indian national team who plays in a foreign league. He has been part of the squad of Norwegian club Stabaek in the Tippeligaen league ever since he moved there in 2014. He became the first Indian to ever feature in the Uefa Europa League when he started in the goal for Stabaek in their first qualifying round match on June 30. PLAYING ABROAD Having made his debut in the 3-0 loss to Iran in a 2018 World Cup qualifying match in Bangalore on September 8, 2015, Sandhu has since been the first-choice goalkeeper for the national team. He feels more Indians should be playing overseas.
“I do feel good about the situation that at least we have an Indian player playing overseas. It’s me, but even if it were someone else, it would be great for us.
“I think it is a very important factor to have an Indian playing outside India. I think that’s the only way Indian football is going to progress — with more players playing outside the country,” Sandhu told reporters before the Indian team’s training session at the Shahaji Raje Sports Complex (Andheri Sports Complex) on Wednesday.
When asked if the current crop of Indian players have the quality to play abroad, he summed up his answer with one word before elaborating.
“If the players are willing to try — yes. I believe every single one of them can play (in a foreign league). Especially, the players in the current under-17 squad. The younger, the better.”
Sandhu is with the Indian team in Mumbai to prepare for the international friendly against Puerto Rico at the Andheri Sports Complex on September 3. UP FOR THE BATTLE The Puerto Rico team is ranked 114 in the Fifa standings; much higher than India’s current 152. And Sandhu is relishing the prospective battle.