Football News
Can’t wait to get back onto the pitch and train, says Indian footballer Robin Singh
New Delhi: As the whole nation is under lockdown, Indian footballer Robin Singh shared his opinion on various aspects of being quarantined at home and how an individual can utilise this crisis situation for better future.
India striker is currently based in Goa with his family, where he is trying his hands on something new. He also talked about how Indian football club culture has grown in the country.
Here are the excerpts of the exclusive chat with Sports Lounge:
SL: How is the quarantine going on? What are the challenges of being isolated?
RS: It’s been more than two months since we have been self quarantined at home, I am focusing on my fitness while staying indoors. The good part is you get time to spend with your family and get to try other avenues of life. I picked up yoga and helping around the house wherever possible.
Goa has been declared a green zone which gave me the opportunity to go out and cycle around the area which is actually amazing. I’ve been watching a lot of documentaries, home décor and DIY videos. I am a very hands-on person so that I can learn a new skill. I have been learning carpentry to build new things.
SL: How do you see football growing in India post lockdown?
RS: The lack of football during the lockdown has made me hungrier to get onto the pitch and train harder than ever and I’m sure that every sport fan and athlete will second my thought that they can’t wait to get back onto the pitch and train.
Likewise I’m sure the fans also miss the feeling of watching their favourite teams and players play. So post this lockdown I feel the football is going to grow and with the women’s World Cup around the corner I’m sure the football and sport in our country is going to grow leaps and bounds.
SL: What’s your take on ‘Sports behind closed doors’?
RS: Football is a spectator sport not just in our country but generally as well. It’s going to be hard but if it protects the rest of the community – not just the footballing community, but everyone else in the country, then you have to stick with it.
Yes, I miss them. But I am sure, soon enough, we will be back with a full stadium. I’m receiving messages from family and fans that we want to watch you play.
I’m amazed to see as during this pandemic they are still not tied down and want to come and watch us play. So like us, they are also counting down days when this lockdown gets over and football resumes.
SL: Being a senior player, how do you compare former India coach Stephen Constantine and current coach Igor Stimac?
RS: I’ve been honoured to have represented my country while Stephen Constantine was the coach which helped me grow and mature as a player who wants nothing but the best for his teammates and himself and I eagerly look forward to having the opportunity to represent my country again under Igor Stimac. Both coaches bring their own ideas and tactics to their training and games.
SL: In the past you have said club culture is dying in India, is this the right time to promote club culture? If yes, please explain how?
RS: To begin with I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding I’ve absolutely never said club culture is dying. There’s been a huge growth in club culture for indian football, we’ve seen large number of fan groups come out and support their respective teams, two of them being the Manjapada of Kerala blasters and the West Block Blues of Bengaluru FC.
SL: Recently, you were also a part of Real Kashmir FC team, how different it was from Hyderabad FC setup?
RS: Each to its own to be honest, both the coaches brought a different tactic of how they would like to play the game but from a team prospective I see no difference. My team mates at both teams Hyderabad and Real Kashmir always wanted to win and were hungry to compete be it during games or at training. I’m equally proud of being a part of both teams during the course of the season.
SL: Tell us about the new adidas campaign – ‘HomeTeam Heroes Challenge’, how you feel about it to take part in such a global initiative?
RS: I am very happy to join the ‘Hometeam Heroes Challenge’ initiative, a largest virtual sporting event in history where adidas’ goal is to contribute $1 Million US dollars towards WHO’s COVID relief fund. For every hour of activity on adidas’ and partners’ app, the brand will donate $1 USD and I think this is great because an hour throughout the 24 hours a day is not much and that too when you are working towards a noble cause.
When Hometeam Heroes Challenge came, it gave me an extra bit of motivation for my workouts where I don’t want to skip a day as now I’m also playing my part to support our frontline warriors. So point number one, you’re making yourself fit, second, you contribute to help raise funds and the last one is, It’s like a thank you to our frontline heroes as well.
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