We are thrilled! This is an amazing news for all the Indian football fans who have been eagerly waiting all these years to see an Indian footballer making it to an International club!
Goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has become the first to play football for a top tier International club. The ace footballer made his competitive debut for the Norwegian club, Stabæk managed by former United States national coach, Bob Bradley, this Wednesday.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu had joined the big club in the August of last year and was playing second fiddle to Ivory Coast goalkeeper, Sayouba Mande.
“He [Mande] is a very good goalkeeper, but we are competitors when we are on the pitch. I will show my manager that I’m as good as Mande, and that I deserve a second chance. I would very much like to be Stabæks number one.”
On the day of the match, the goalkeeping coach broke the news to Gurpreet, which left him shocked and numb with happiness.
“I was pretty surprised. It took me some time before I could give him a high-five. I played in the first reserve game on Monday and I was pretty good in that match. It’s very difficult for a goalkeeper to stave off completion and make the first team. I had to work my socks off to see the light of the day. I am living my dream now.”
Last night, he played against Runar in the Norwegian Football Cup and came out with a clean sheet. The club defeated Runar at 6-0.
“I’m really proud and happy that it happened. I was waiting for the chance — the team won, that’s the main thing and (I got) a clean sheet and I thank the team for that,” Sandhu statement on the club’s website after the first round win.
“The team showed character and didn’t lose concentration and did what it required in these kind of matches. I‘m the only Indian player to play for a top division club in Europe so… I’m lucky.”
This news is big for the aspiring footballers and football fans in India for the game didn’t enjoy much visibility and popularity until 2015 International Super League happened in India.
We are proud of the former East Bengal and Pailan Arrows player and wish him good luck with the game.
