Singh’s career advancement lends itself to new challenge
All Whites star Sarpreet Singh is embracing his greater responsibility at German second division club 1. FCNu¨rnberg after heading out on loan from European champions Bayern Munich in the search formore consistent game time.
The 21-year-old midfielder is due to begin the 2. Bundesliga season against SSV Jahn Regensburg today, having already made his competitive debut in the German Cup last weekend.
It was a difficult first assignment for Singh, playing 63 minutes in a 3-0 defeat to Champions League semifinalists RB Leipzig, though the score was only 1-0 when he was replaced.
‘‘Obviously it’s not easy against that sort of opposition but it’s another game under the belt and moreminutes under the belt,’’ he said.
Singhmade two Bundesliga appearances for champions Bayern during awhirlwind first season in Europe after originally signing with the club’s reserve team, the winners of the German third division.
Given the incredible depth on the first team roster, the
Wellington Phoenix product said he was encouraged by Bayern head coach Hansi Flick to go out on loan and he felt the more ‘‘aggressive’’ second division would provide a sterner challenge after excelling in 3. Liga.
‘‘Obviously when you’re a player at Bayern and you’re a young player, game time is the most important. In my first season there I played a lot of gameswith the second team and then I was on
the bench quite a bit amongst the first team.
‘‘It was all very good and in my first year itwas amazing what I achieved there, but towards the end of the season there were talks ongoing that it was very important for me to get games at a higher level.
‘‘Everyone felt this was the right club for my next step and that was very important because there’s a new coach, a new director and the way they want to play football and the style of play fitted into how I see myself playing and developing. It was very strategic to make this move, there was a lot of thinking behind it and I’m really happy to be here.
‘‘At Bayern they’re the best team in the world so to get consistent game time is not going to be so easy but having awhole season undermy belt at a very high levelwill be much more beneficial
for the long run.
‘‘I did good in the second team last year but I think I can take another step up and this is another step up from what Iwas doing, so it’s another challenge forme but it’s no problem – it’s a good challenge.’’
Singh said he had settled in well at his new club and was surprised to learn that the son FCNu¨rnberg’s sporting
director Dieter Hecking had actually coached him at the Wynrs academy in Auckland when he was a child.
‘‘Mr Hecking, when he spoke to me the first timewe had a conversation, he was telling me about how his son was there. Obviously I don’t remember but it’s so crazy how small the world is because he’s the sporting director here and his son was coaching me at Wynrs.’’
As well as embarking on a new chapter with FC Nu¨rnberg, Singh said he was also looking forward to being involved in the All Whites’ upcoming friendly against England at Wembley in November.
Coach Danny Haywill rely heavily on a European-based squad for the match due to the strict travel restrictions in place to combat Covid-19 and NZ Football was forced to pull the pin on a previously arranged fixture against Belgium due to the unavailability of a host of frontline players in October.
But Singh, who is part of a new generation of exciting youngNew Zealand football players plying their trade in Europe, said he was not daunted by what awaited the 121st ranked All Whites in London.
‘‘Forme having these games, it’s amazing because as a kid it’s what you dream of, you want to play against these sorts of teams. Growing up in New Zealand I think you alwayswant to play against England and to be able to do it will be something very special,’’ he said.
‘‘But for me it’s not just about playing against them. It’s about doingwell and trying to get something from the game because ultimately I play to win and the most important thing is that we do everythingwe can to win and not just take part.’’
‘‘It’s another challenge for me but it’s no problem – it’s a good challenge.’’ Sarpreet Singh on his loan move to FC Nu¨rnberg