Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s world— Where Popeye meets Thunberg, Redford and Shri Padma Shri Chhetri
90s kid
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the only millennial to use the word ‘boomer’ unironically in 2019. A fair distance away from the cacophony of Gen X, Y, Z, the true blue 90s kid instead was making a reference to the Wrigley’s chewing gum Boomer, and the elastic man.
Sandhu’s timeline is littered with sketches of classic cartoon characters such as Daffy Duck, Popeye, Goofy et al, a habit he picked up when he was gifted a Dragon Ball Z pencil box.
“Drawing cartoons and sketching makes me happy. Forgetting about everything, even the game, and shifting your focus to simple things like sketching helps so that you can learn to channel your focus,” Sandhu said in a 2017 interview. “It eventually helps on the field too when you need to stay focused for 90 minutes.”
Captain Planet
There’s more than just saving goals on Sandhu’s agenda. Last week, he retweeted environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s call to change in the wake of Australia Fires tragedy. Earlier, on September 24, Sandhu had also shared Thunberg’s #HowDareYou speech at the United Nations summit with his 57k followers.
It’s not about chasing social media clout either. In July, Sandhu answered a rapid-fire question from stuff.tv: “If I were to choose to be a superhero, I’d wish to be Captain Planet. I wish I could use my powers to reverse the effects of climate change and pollution.”
Sandhu also declared his support for Thunberg’s ‘School Strike 4 climate’ movement. “Kudos to the @StrikeClimate for taking this important initiative, it’s time to act together and take initiative to protect our planet #ClimateChange
Good Guy Gurpreet
Sandhu isn’t one for emojis. The one he’s used most — ‘namaste’ — is common to most athletes. He’s into gifs, though. His go-to being the Robert Redford nod of approval from the 1972 film ‘Jeremiah Johnson’. He used the gif six times this year: accepting compliments, celebrating Kean Lewis’ contract extension at BFC. The most wholesome usage of the gif was the day after the Game of Thrones finale aired. India captain Sunil Chhetri, like millions worldwide, was coming to terms with the disappointing final season. “…I have absolutely no problem with Bran as King, but the build-up to it should have been more solid. In fact, so many major moments lacked a good build up…” Chhetri tweeted. In response, Sandesh Jhingan asked the all-important question. “Paji @chetrisunil11 “GOT” chorho, quinoa kaun la raha lunch pe yeh btao.” Enter Good guy Gurpreet. “I’ll bring it,” with the Redford nod to boot.
Connected to the roots
It was also a year of multiple trips down the memory lanes of Norway. Sandhu retweeted a photo of John ‘Budgie’ Burridge and Espen Granli hanging out together; the former a goalkeeper-turned-pundit who recommended young Sandhu to various scouts across Europe, the latter his coach at Norwegian club Stabaek FC. “The discoverer and the maker, both in a single frame!” tweeted Sandhu. On September 18, he also tweeted a photo of a police report he had filed during his time in Norway. “Was going through some of my archives and found this Police report that i had filed back in Norway, when i could only afford a bicycle?? and that too got stolen!? #ToughTimesDontLastToughPeopleDo”
It wasn’t all overseas either. Sandhu also documented his trips to the St Stephen’s Academy in Chandigarh, where his footballing journey began.
Dear brother
Throughout 2019, Sandhu also expressed his adulation for Sunil Chhetri. The captain-goalie duo continued to rule the roost at BFC, and Sandhu tweeted out a photo of the two walking out of the Bengaluru airport with the ISL trophy and “Dhai kilo ka” golden glove trophy in tow.
In another throwback post, Sandhu recalled ‘#TheDayIMet @chetrisunil11’. But the crowning glory was on the Republic Day, when Chhetri was conferred with the Padma Shri award. Sandhu congratulated by updating the contact info in his phone to ‘Shri Padma Shri Chhetri Bhai’. In return, when Sandhu received the Arjuna Award in August, Chhetri wrote a heartful post. “Let’s keep the height or the lack of it aside for a minute. A few years ago, I saw you walk into the national team as a kid. And today to see ‘Arjuna Awardee’ go beside your name, gives me immense pride.”
Revealed: How Stabaek approached Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for shock return
The custodian was offered a second stint by the Norwegian club.
India‘s penalty shootout hero Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who played in integral part in the Blue Tigers‘ ninth SAFF Championship win, was a key target for Norway’s top division club Stabaek Fotball, Khel Now can reveal.
“Stabaek offered Gurpreet a deal to become their No. 1 goalkeeper during January of this year, and wanted him in Norway by February 2023,” a source close to the development had revealed.
In early February, the time by which Stabaek expected a decision to be made, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had a lot of factors to consider. Bengaluru FC were firmly in the playoffs race after a poor start to the season, and it would have been impossible for him to leave.
Additionally, the six foot six guardian between the sticks faced the prospect of missing the Hero Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship because of non-FIFA days. After careful consideration, Gurpreet decided to complete the season with the Blues, and signed a five-year contract extension till the 2028-29 season.
good decision. now its not the time for him to move abroad. younger one's like Dheeraj can make a move now. Also I am not convinced in making number 1 GK for a Norway Club.
Bad decision in my opinion. Played and won with BFC. Time to play in Norway and then move to a Champions league country. Sky is the limit but not when you stay in India
Comments
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s world— Where Popeye meets Thunberg, Redford and Shri Padma Shri Chhetri
90s kid
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the only millennial to use the word ‘boomer’ unironically in 2019. A fair distance away from the cacophony of Gen X, Y, Z, the true blue 90s kid instead was making a reference to the Wrigley’s chewing gum Boomer, and the elastic man.
Sandhu’s timeline is littered with sketches of classic cartoon characters such as Daffy Duck, Popeye, Goofy et al, a habit he picked up when he was gifted a Dragon Ball Z pencil box.
“Drawing cartoons and sketching makes me happy. Forgetting about everything, even the game, and shifting your focus to simple things like sketching helps so that you can learn to channel your focus,” Sandhu said in a 2017 interview. “It eventually helps on the field too when you need to stay focused for 90 minutes.”
Captain Planet
There’s more than just saving goals on Sandhu’s agenda. Last week, he retweeted environmental activist Greta Thunberg’s call to change in the wake of Australia Fires tragedy. Earlier, on September 24, Sandhu had also shared Thunberg’s #HowDareYou speech at the United Nations summit with his 57k followers.
It’s not about chasing social media clout either. In July, Sandhu answered a rapid-fire question from stuff.tv: “If I were to choose to be a superhero, I’d wish to be Captain Planet. I wish I could use my powers to reverse the effects of climate change and pollution.”
Sandhu also declared his support for Thunberg’s ‘School Strike 4 climate’ movement. “Kudos to the @StrikeClimate for taking this important initiative, it’s time to act together and take initiative to protect our planet #ClimateChange
Good Guy Gurpreet
Sandhu isn’t one for emojis. The one he’s used most — ‘namaste’ — is common to most athletes. He’s into gifs, though. His go-to being the Robert Redford nod of approval from the 1972 film ‘Jeremiah Johnson’. He used the gif six times this year: accepting compliments, celebrating Kean Lewis’ contract extension at BFC. The most wholesome usage of the gif was the day after the Game of Thrones finale aired. India captain Sunil Chhetri, like millions worldwide, was coming to terms with the disappointing final season. “…I have absolutely no problem with Bran as King, but the build-up to it should have been more solid. In fact, so many major moments lacked a good build up…” Chhetri tweeted. In response, Sandesh Jhingan asked the all-important question. “Paji @chetrisunil11 “GOT” chorho, quinoa kaun la raha lunch pe yeh btao.” Enter Good guy Gurpreet. “I’ll bring it,” with the Redford nod to boot.
Connected to the roots
It was also a year of multiple trips down the memory lanes of Norway. Sandhu retweeted a photo of John ‘Budgie’ Burridge and Espen Granli hanging out together; the former a goalkeeper-turned-pundit who recommended young Sandhu to various scouts across Europe, the latter his coach at Norwegian club Stabaek FC. “The discoverer and the maker, both in a single frame!” tweeted Sandhu. On September 18, he also tweeted a photo of a police report he had filed during his time in Norway. “Was going through some of my archives and found this Police report that i had filed back in Norway, when i could only afford a bicycle?? and that too got stolen!? #ToughTimesDontLastToughPeopleDo”
It wasn’t all overseas either. Sandhu also documented his trips to the St Stephen’s Academy in Chandigarh, where his footballing journey began.
Dear brother
Throughout 2019, Sandhu also expressed his adulation for Sunil Chhetri. The captain-goalie duo continued to rule the roost at BFC, and Sandhu tweeted out a photo of the two walking out of the Bengaluru airport with the ISL trophy and “Dhai kilo ka” golden glove trophy in tow.
In another throwback post, Sandhu recalled ‘#TheDayIMet @chetrisunil11’. But the crowning glory was on the Republic Day, when Chhetri was conferred with the Padma Shri award. Sandhu congratulated by updating the contact info in his phone to ‘Shri Padma Shri Chhetri Bhai’. In return, when Sandhu received the Arjuna Award in August, Chhetri wrote a heartful post. “Let’s keep the height or the lack of it aside for a minute. A few years ago, I saw you walk into the national team as a kid. And today to see ‘Arjuna Awardee’ go beside your name, gives me immense pride.”
https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/gurpreet-singh-sandhu-where-popeye-meets-thunberg-redford-and-shri-padma-shri-chhetri-6192498/
Goalkeeping a thankless job, says India’s custodian
Revealed: How Stabaek approached Gurpreet Singh Sandhu for shock return
The custodian was offered a second stint by the Norwegian club.
India‘s penalty shootout hero Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who played in integral part in the Blue Tigers‘ ninth SAFF Championship win, was a key target for Norway’s top division club Stabaek Fotball, Khel Now can reveal.
“Stabaek offered Gurpreet a deal to become their No. 1 goalkeeper during January of this year, and wanted him in Norway by February 2023,” a source close to the development had revealed.
In early February, the time by which Stabaek expected a decision to be made, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had a lot of factors to consider. Bengaluru FC were firmly in the playoffs race after a poor start to the season, and it would have been impossible for him to leave.
Additionally, the six foot six guardian between the sticks faced the prospect of missing the Hero Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship because of non-FIFA days. After careful consideration, Gurpreet decided to complete the season with the Blues, and signed a five-year contract extension till the 2028-29 season.