"Penalties are often dismissed as a lottery," wrote Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski in their seminal book on football, Soccernomics. If indeed penalties are the lottery of football, then the Indian team hit the jackpot not once but twice — during their successful stint in the recently concluded SAFF Championship.
And the man who almost made a habit of winning the "lottery" — along with the SAFF Championship trophy — was goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The towering keeper was India's hero as he made some crucial penalty saves, first against Lebanon in the semifinal, and then against Kuwait in the final.
Fresh after winning the SAFF Championship and catching a much-deserved break, Sandhu, a Red Bull athlete who plays for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), in an interview with CNBCTV18.com spoke at length about his first memories of football, his penalty heroics, what makes Sree Kanteerava Stadium special, and much more.
Excerpts of the interview are below:
What are your first memories of football and what inspired you to take up the sport?
Sandhu: I started playing football at the age of eight or nine. Just like everyone else, to be part of a team, getting a chance to kick a ball was something that I enjoyed a lot. I wanted to do it everyday. I ended up making a career out of it. Not a bad journey to be honest. I have enjoyed a lot. I am glad that I had a football academy in my school, St Stephens, Chandigarh, who provided me an opportunity to join an academy and play football there.
What is your first memory of the sport?
Sandhu: I never watched football on TV. Back then, like most of us, we watched cricket. My dad loves cricket and would watch a lot of cricket. We did not have too much knowledge about football on television. I am not sure if domestic football was on the television back then.
I had very basic or zero knowledge about the game. I remember the 2002 World Cup happening — everyone donning the Rolando haircut. That is about all.
The first time I ever watched football on TV was in 2006 or 2007 — and it was Manchester United. That was also with the under-17 Indian football team. We all sat in our dorm room together in the AIFF house. That is how I started watching football.
Jumping from your childhood straight to your most recent heroics. You saved crucial penalties in the semifinal against Lebanon and then in the final against Kuwait of the SAFF Championships. I want to understand your thought process during the penalty shootouts. Did you, for instance, prepare separately for the scenario.
Sandhu: To be honest, the preparations were very normal. Going in with the same kind of mentality that we need to win it in 90 minutes. No one wants the match to go into the penalties. I would have preferred if we had won the game in 90 minutes. But of course, nothing is easy in life. The other team wants to win as well.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in action during India's successful run in the SAFF championship. (Image: GurpreetGK Twitter))Unfortunately or fortunately, we had to go into the penalties — then it is 50-50. I was at the better end. There was nothing new about my preparations. I was trying to keep it as normal as possible. Just try to be focused and not get carried away, with conceding a goal or saving a penalty.
What keeps you motivated throughout the long stretches of matches?
Sandhu: I think it is the desire to win a trophy. We wanted to do it in front of our fans. Specially in Bangalore which is my home. To do it in front of the fans in style was something that drove us throughout.
What is the secret of your energy, focus and concentration?
Sandhu: I drink half a can of Red Bull before the game and the other half at half-time. It helps me so much during half-time because you need that instant energy to go out on the pitch and play the second half of the game. Since I started keeping a can of Red Bull by my side, it has helped me to gain that focus and it has elevated my game; to be able to perform on the pitch a lot better. I love to do that, and will continue to do that.
A video from the Sree Kanteerava Stadium has gone viral where the fans can be seen singing 'Vande Mataram' at the top of their voices. The fans came out in large numbers physically to support the Indian team throughout the SAFF Championship. The stadium is also your home ground during ISL. What makes this stadium so special for Indian football? I ask this because Bengaluru is far away from the hubs of Indian football like Kerala, Goa or Kolkata.
Sandhu: The fans make the stadium special. Their knowledge about the game makes it special. Them being supportive throughout is what makes it special. The reason we won the SAFF cup is because of the fans. They were the 12th man. They supported us throughout and believed in us. They are the reason why we do well at Kanteerava.
As #India wins it's 9th #SAFFChampionship more than the winning movement I am cherishing how the crowd is embracing the win along with the team by singing Vande Matram and cheering them further... Something that we do not witness often... pic.twitter.com/DIhxACXR6L
— Anuradha S (@anuradhamax7) July 4, 2023
If you pull out the past records, we have always given the opponents a good fight at the stadium. So all the credit goes to the fans who want to come in numbers and enjoy a good spectacle.
How has ISL helped in growing Indian football?
Sandhu: The performance of the every single Indian player is a testament of ISL's success. The aim of the league was always to build and promote Indian footballers. I think it has done really good job. Since it has begun, we have grown in numbers, in terms of teams, in terms of viewership. It is a good place to be right now. ISL is a product where even the bigger names of Indian football should participate.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu Bengaluru FC(Image: GurpreetGK Twitter)How is it play under Indian captain Sunil Chhetri? Any leadership lessons to learn from the Indian skipper?
Sandhu: He (Sunil Chhetri) leads by example. That is the kind of person he is. He is the person who just doesn't sit there and say things. He will do it for you. If he can't do it, he will not ask someone else to do it as well. He is required in the team to set standards. He is the one who is always in the top bunch. There is only one Sunil Chhetri. We are lucky enough to have a world level player. For us it is very important to celebrate the man and his legacy.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu with Indian captain Sunil Chettri. (Image: GurpreetGK Twitter)From one main man to the other main man who directs the proceedings from the sidelines. I am talking about coach Igor Stimac. How has the team flourished under him?
Sandhu:The results speak for themselves. It has been wonderful. It is a process and the coach has instilled in the boys through constant message. To push the kind of football that he wants us to play. Overtime we have learnt it and the players have matured. We have peaked at the right time. That is why we have the string of results. So his work, in terms of sending the right message to the players on the way we should play football and how we present ourselves, is something we have caught on. Let's hope we carry will it forward.
What's next for the Indian football team and how are you preparing for those upcoming challenges?
Sandhu: Right now I am just focusing on having a good time. I want to enjoy this small break with my family, with my wife. After that I will start work again. The team has more tournaments coming up. The Merdeka Cup and the King's Cup — and the Asian Cup in January. After this good two-week break, we will be back to work.
Any message for the young girls and boys who play football on the streets and in the grounds across India, dreaming of playing for the country someday?
Sandhu: Just enjoy yourself. Don't think too much. Focus on having a good sleep. Eat less fried food. Less masala food. Make sure you are taking care of your nutrition. Just be happy.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: Jul 7, 2023 6:11 AM IST
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