#TFGinteview: Balwant Singh- Encounter with football, dealing with injuries and new season

A MEAN FINISHER, A GOAL POACHER, HARD PRESSER. Many are his attributes but he is best at what a striker does, score many goals. Balwant Singh, Mumbai City FC and Indian Team striker speaks to The Fan Garage in an exclusive interview.

Introduction to football

Like any other boy at his age, Balwant Singh played a sport that gave him a lot of joy. Little did he know that his love for the game would take him to great heights and end up making his passion his career.

Born in a village in Punjab, Balwant enjoyed playing football just as a hobby and he his potential was noticed by the right people who helped him get to where he is today. In his own words, he explains his encounter getting to football,

"While playing football casually in school, my school principal noticed me and he told me that I must play for the school team. After that I started practicing with the school team and he encouraged me a lot. Two years later I was in college and represented college for two years. I joined JCT Academy during college"

At the time of joining JCT Academy, there were already great products of the Academy like Sunil Chhetri part of the seniors.

"When I joined the academy, I saw players like Sunil bhai and Anwar paaji, Daljit,Harish and other foreign players were present from the previous batch. All this was new to me and I was amazed because prior to that I did not have the know-how of football"

Balwant said that he did not have a background or family that had a footballing history and added

"My brother still plays for CRPF as a goalkeeper. He was the one told me to take up football professionally. At that moment, my brother's words didn’t make any sense to me"

"When at JCT Academy, we once played against BSF and their coach asked me to come for a trial. It was more a formality sake invitation. I did go there and got through with the medicals and only awaiting my joining letter. There was some issue and the letter was due to arrive after two or three months"

In a turn of fortune, the then coach of JCT club, Sukhwinder, called a few players from the JCT Academy.

The Punjab lad shared this moment saying,

"This was a routine process where about two or three players inducted into the senior club team from the academy. The coach advised me that I could make the cut but your family must agree to the decision. My immediate supporter in the decision was my brother. My family too never pressurised me to take up a job instead of joining the club. In Punjab, it is typical of parents to not allow their children do anything apart from doing routine jobs"

"And then I joined JCT and slowly understood what being a professional footballer was"

The Indian striker has come a long way from joining one of the most famous team from the North of India to playing for Goan and Kolkata giants and currently to the Indian Super League, Balwant has surely seen football in the country transition through many phases. Sharing his experience he said,

"I would not say being a professional footballer back when I started was either difficult or easy than today. One thing I would say for sure is currently the marketing of football has being done on a large scale. Lots of young players have come in and the national team is doing well. So these are the things that have changed"

On fighting injuries

Balwant Singh's performances on the field have always been a treat for the fans to watch but he has been unlucky with regard to not being able to keep away from injuries.

As we posed with the painful topic on the tough striker, he smiled in acceptance of having injuries as a friend that would not let him go.

And that is exactly how he treated the hindrances caused due injuries; with respect. He answered,

"When I was at Salgaocar, I was hit with an injury. But the injury was not as such that I knew I would be out for a set period of time. Luckily, by God's grace, I did not have to undergo any surgery. That phase was a bit long as may not have been too careful"

A fighter's best quality is one that truly gives it his all and never gives up. A fighter as he, Balwant says he shows the same attitude towards his injuries.

"I've never thought negatively about injuries."

"After the injury I suffered at Salgaocar, I joined Churchill Brothers and that a very good season for me. Last to last year, at Mohun Bagan I suffered an injury again and I was in a rehabilitation under physical trainer Djair Miranda Garcia. I also met a lot of Physios. But during all this, I never put myself down or wanted to quit"

Also read: Emotional scenes at Barasat as Balwant Singh makes a scoring return after long injury spell 

"I keep working hard and don't think about the injury at all"

Balwant has always made a great comeback after his recovery, be it Churchill, Mohun Bagan or even the national team. This was a motivating factor for him to bounce back after a period of absence from the field.

"I have never lost touch of the game or the field. If not on the ground, I would at least make it a point to watch the games. Kept on learning and putting into practice whatever I learnt. Depending on how well the rehabilitation is going, one can come out faster from an injury. "

The Mumbai City FC striker took a moment to thank physical trainer Garcia and all Mohun Bagan family, officials, coaches and especially the fans from Kolkata because they were with him in the toughest of times.

Second spell at the national team

Coming to the national team front, Balwant was getting regular games before he went through an injury that kept him out of action for a long time. On his return, he made it back to the national team this year but as luck had it store for him, an injury ruled out of the recent Myanmar game of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

"I was doing well in the national team, had got comfortable with players and the coach because it takes a while to know everyone. The coach has a plan and you have to adapt yourself to it. But unfortunately I got injured in the last match in Spain. But it is all part and parcel of the game. It is not a long injury, I will be back soon and hope I continue with the national team again."

Pre-season Mumbai City FC

Balwant was picked in the ISL franchise Mumbai City FC this season through the Players Draft. He joins players with whom he has played in the past. Talking about his pre-season experience, he said,

"We had a good pre-season in Spain. We played a lot of good teams there. Since I was not in Mumbai before, it was good to have in the team players like Mehraj bhai and Sehnaj with whom I have played before. With a lot of young Indian players along with foreigners makes it look like a good team and I hope we do well"

To young players

Balwant, seeing the best in his career and at the same time also see his career almost being threatened by injuries was asked to share his advice to the young ones. He replied saying,

"I would only say NEVER GIVE UP in any situation you are. Keep working hard and keep yourself fit. Just listen to your coach's expectations from you and give it your all"

Mumbai City FC: A new season

"There is a good mix of players between young and experienced players and the ones who have been retained.  Experienced foreigners like Goian, Gerson and good goalkeepers plus great young talents like Pranjal, Davinder, Rakesh they are doing very well. I'm very happy for them."

Message to the fans

Balwant Singh concluded with a message to the fans of his new team,

"Like always come in number to support the team. The fans are the strength of the team, any team. Fans are most important to us, come in numbers and support Mumbai City FC"

Disclaimer: This interview was conducted in Hindi and we have tried our best to transcribe and translate into the English.