Exclusive: My dream is to play for the Indian senior national team- Dheeraj Singh
The starlet is set to leave for European trials soon and says he would love to represent the country at another World Cup.
When India hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in 2017, it was the first time, the nation was participating at a FIFA event. Although, the hosts failed to win any of their games and progress beyond the group stages, the extravaganza was a complete success drawing record crowds and being hailed as the one of the best FIFA age-group tournaments ever held.
In the World Cup, the young Colts were unable to register a victory against any of their opponents. In spite of fighting displays, they were defeated by the likes of the USA, Colombia and Ghana.
The tournament gave the world new heroes like England's Rhian Brewster and Phil Foden. Apart from several international starlets to watch out for in the future it also gave Indian Football its own newest poster-boy, and Dheeraj Singh whose inspired performances in goal, even in defeat won him millions of admirers.
Impregnable between the sticks, the 17-year-old Dheeraj was India's saviour. He rose upto the occasion for the Indian Colts, safeguarding the goal, whenever the defenders floundered. He was a symbol of uncompromising spirit and his performance was a solace for the fans.
The youngster who is currently training with Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters is set to leave the country soon for trials with some European clubs as he continues his rapid ascend to the top level. The shot-stopper spoke exclusively to Khel Now about his journey so far, his future plans and so on. Excepts:
Q1: You were part of the Indian Arrows side for a while in the I-League. How was your time there?
A - It was like continuing with the World Cup team and coach. I enjoyed training and playing for them while I was there.
Q2: What made you choose Kerala Blasters over other ISL clubs?
A - I am training with Kerala Blasters before going for trials to the UK. As David James is the head coach and being a great former goalkeeper, it is good to work under him. Other clubs had also offered me to join them to train for fitness, but Blasters were the first to offer me a stint. I am currently getting ready for my foreign stint, keeping fit here.
Q3: Do you think that training under David James and Co. will benefit you?
A - In the UK, I will be have trials with senior teams or reserve teams. It's good to be training with the senior players and international players here in Kochi as it helps me a lot getting ready for these foreign stints.
Q4: You're the new poster-boy of Indian Football. Does it exert any extra pressure on you?
A - I am just another player and need to break into the senior level before achieving anything in Indian football. There is no pressure on me from anyone.
Q5: Do you think that the FIFA U-17 World Cup has kick-started a vibrant period of Indian football?
A - I certainly hope so. Anything that can help Indian football to become better is good for football and good for us.
Q6: How was it playing before 60000+ in the FIFA U-17 World Cup?
A - It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and great to be supported by so many fans. I hope fans start coming for all levels of football, not just the World Cup which was hosted by India.
Q7: Your pick between Indian Super League, and I-League?
A- The Indian Super league has more big international names and coaches. Both leagues have good quality of football and for us Indian players, wherever we are playing we need to perform well day in and day out.
Q8: Tell us about your experience working with coach Luis Norton de Matos?
A - I really enjoyed my time playing under him. He was really encouraging and confident that we will do well for the national team and with Indian Arrows.
Q9: You're going to leave for European trials soon. Do you think it is the right step?
A- Everyone I have spoken to has told me to go and try in as many good standard leagues and clubs as possible at a young age. I am from India, so I would always love to play at the top level in India but if I get an opportunity in a higher standard league it will be a dream come true. I will keep trying till I am sure I can make it abroad.
Q10: What are your plans for the future?
A - Just to play as long as I can for the age-group national teams and then the senior national team and then do my best for whichever club I get the opportunity to play for.
Q11: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu recently gave you some advice. How did you take that?
A- He improved substantially after going on a foreign stint in Norway. I want to do the same and play abroad if and when the opportunity arises. Of course it depends on many other factors and my performance.
Q12: Your idol, and your favourite team?
A - My idol is Petr Cech, and my favourite team is Real Madrid.
Q13: What's your dream. Where do you want to reach?
A - If I can play for the Indian senior national team and if I can play in another World Cup, it would be a dream come true!
https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/aiff-seeks-cbi-probe-204974
All India Football Federation (AIFF) has written to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) urging them to investigate the allegations that some of the Minerva Punjab FC players had been approached for match fixing.
"We have requested the CBI to investigate the matter. It has asked us to send necessary documents to them. They will shortly let us know whether they would like to investigate," AIFF general secretary Kushal Das said, on Tuesday.
The federation, however, has decided against filing an FIR with the police since it would force them to reveal the names of the players approached for fixing.
"Since a Spanish phone number is involved in the messages allegedly sent to the Minerva players, we have also informed the AFC and the Fifa about the latest developments," Das said.
Back in 2014, the CBI had set up a sports integrity unit to probe into allegations of sport frauds including betting and match-fixing.
In 2015, the CBI recommended suitable action against four top-level table tennis players and their parents for altering age records to compete in age-group competitions.
Minerva Punjab, the current leaders in the I-League with 26 points, have written to the AIFF twice this month alleging their footballers have been approached for fixing matches. In the first letter, the clubs said two of their players received messages on their mobile phones.
Last Sunday, Minerva Punjab owner Ranjit Bajaj wrote to the federation again, saying another five players have received similar messages. Federation sources said a phone number from Spain and one from India were being used while sending messages.
However, this is not for the first time match-fixing allegations have hit Indian football.
Only last year, Fifa wrote to AIFF informing about a possible fixing during a match between Tollygunge Agragami and Rainbow FC in the Calcutta league on August 25, which resulted in a 2-1 victory for the former.
The letter then was written after Sportradar Integrity Services (SIS), a match fixing investigating agency with whom Fifa have a formal agreement, raised suspicion about unusual betting trend on the particular match.
SIS's role is "to identify and analyse any suspicion batting patterns across a number of international and domestic competitions around the world."
IND U 16 team again won a remarkable match in Middle East. India beat aspire academy 2-0, courtesy to Rohit Danu and Bekey, the one of best academy in Asia.
Bibiano Fernandes and Floyd pinto both are good but as always foreigners given more importance than indians... I think if Floyd pinto alone managed indian arrows result would have been better
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Exclusive: My dream is to play for the Indian senior national team- Dheeraj Singh
The starlet is set to leave for European trials soon and says he would love to represent the country at another World Cup.
When India hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup, in 2017, it was the first time, the nation was participating at a FIFA event. Although, the hosts failed to win any of their games and progress beyond the group stages, the extravaganza was a complete success drawing record crowds and being hailed as the one of the best FIFA age-group tournaments ever held.
In the World Cup, the young Colts were unable to register a victory against any of their opponents. In spite of fighting displays, they were defeated by the likes of the USA, Colombia and Ghana.
The tournament gave the world new heroes like England's Rhian Brewster and Phil Foden. Apart from several international starlets to watch out for in the future it also gave Indian Football its own newest poster-boy, and Dheeraj Singh whose inspired performances in goal, even in defeat won him millions of admirers.
Impregnable between the sticks, the 17-year-old Dheeraj was India's saviour. He rose upto the occasion for the Indian Colts, safeguarding the goal, whenever the defenders floundered. He was a symbol of uncompromising spirit and his performance was a solace for the fans.
The youngster who is currently training with Indian Super League (ISL) outfit Kerala Blasters is set to leave the country soon for trials with some European clubs as he continues his rapid ascend to the top level. The shot-stopper spoke exclusively to Khel Now about his journey so far, his future plans and so on. Excepts:
Q1: You were part of the Indian Arrows side for a while in the I-League. How was your time there?
A - It was like continuing with the World Cup team and coach. I enjoyed training and playing for them while I was there.
Q2: What made you choose Kerala Blasters over other ISL clubs?
A - I am training with Kerala Blasters before going for trials to the UK. As David James is the head coach and being a great former goalkeeper, it is good to work under him. Other clubs had also offered me to join them to train for fitness, but Blasters were the first to offer me a stint. I am currently getting ready for my foreign stint, keeping fit here.
Q3: Do you think that training under David James and Co. will benefit you?
A - In the UK, I will be have trials with senior teams or reserve teams. It's good to be training with the senior players and international players here in Kochi as it helps me a lot getting ready for these foreign stints.
Q4: You're the new poster-boy of Indian Football. Does it exert any extra pressure on you?
A - I am just another player and need to break into the senior level before achieving anything in Indian football. There is no pressure on me from anyone.
Q5: Do you think that the FIFA U-17 World Cup has kick-started a vibrant period of Indian football?
A - I certainly hope so. Anything that can help Indian football to become better is good for football and good for us.
Q6: How was it playing before 60000+ in the FIFA U-17 World Cup?
A - It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and great to be supported by so many fans. I hope fans start coming for all levels of football, not just the World Cup which was hosted by India.
A- The Indian Super league has more big international names and coaches. Both leagues have good quality of football and for us Indian players, wherever we are playing we need to perform well day in and day out.
Q8: Tell us about your experience working with coach Luis Norton de Matos?
A - I really enjoyed my time playing under him. He was really encouraging and confident that we will do well for the national team and with Indian Arrows.
Q9: You're going to leave for European trials soon. Do you think it is the right step?
A- Everyone I have spoken to has told me to go and try in as many good standard leagues and clubs as possible at a young age. I am from India, so I would always love to play at the top level in India but if I get an opportunity in a higher standard league it will be a dream come true. I will keep trying till I am sure I can make it abroad.
Q10: What are your plans for the future?
A - Just to play as long as I can for the age-group national teams and then the senior national team and then do my best for whichever club I get the opportunity to play for.
Q11: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu recently gave you some advice. How did you take that?
A- He improved substantially after going on a foreign stint in Norway. I want to do the same and play abroad if and when the opportunity arises. Of course it depends on many other factors and my performance.
Q12: Your idol, and your favourite team?
A - My idol is Petr Cech, and my favourite team is Real Madrid.
Q13: What's your dream. Where do you want to reach?
A - If I can play for the Indian senior national team and if I can play in another World Cup, it would be a dream come true!
I think if Floyd pinto alone managed indian arrows result would have been better