Considered to be among the best strikers in fashionable Indian soccer historical past, Robin Singh has been one of many recognized names amongst followers within the nation. The 33-year-old presently represents SC Bengaluru within the Bangalore Super Division. The striker started his footballing training on the Chandigarh Football Academy, however was launched in 2005 after which joined the reputed Tata Football Academy in Jamshedpur. Initially a winger, Robin was transformed right into a striker throughout his TFA days and shortly caught the eye of Kolkata giants East Bengal, who signed him in 2010. The transfer occurred after Robin scored a brace throughout a pleasant between Tata FA and East Bengal, which additionally knocked them out of the IFA Shield (their quickest exit from the match of their historical past).
With East Bengal, he grew to become a crowd favorite and in addition started to characteristic for the Indian nationwide group. In 2013, he moved to Bengaluru FC, who have been then within the I-League. Since leaving Bengaluru in 2015, he has represented the likes of FC Goa, ATK, Pune City, Hyderabad FC and Real Kashmir.
In worldwide soccer, he represented India U16, U23 and at senior stage. He made his senior debut on August 25 2012 through the Nehru Cup in opposition to Maldives in Delhi. He got here in as an alternative, with India successful 2-0. With India, he received the SAFF Championship in 2015 (runners-up in 2013), Nehru Cup in 2012 and Tri-Nation Series 2017.
In an unique interplay with Hindustan Times, Robin spoke about his footballing training and profession. The striker additionally shared his opinion on India’s performances below head coach Igor Stimac. Here are the excerpts-
Question: During your childhood, you performed each cricket and soccer. So what made you determine to take up soccer over cricket?
Answer: I believe soccer runs within the household. My grandfather was a footballer. He performed and arranged the Durand Cup until he handed away. He was additionally part of the Helsinki Olympics group that was there as properly. But that being stated, it was an easy choice. You know, I simply bought requested at some point what I wish to do by my dad and mom and it was as simple as saying I wish to play soccer. So, sure it has been a protracted and delightful journey ever since.
Question: What was your important inspiration behind enjoying soccer?
Answer: I believe greater than inspiration there was pleasure. The happiness I bought from kicking a ball round was a bit of greater than that being stated to being a cricketer. And then that is that you understand that was the inspiration and that was the enjoyment when you wanna name it that. I simply loved enjoying soccer. It’s the happiness that I nonetheless get from kicking a ball round now as properly and that is what stored me going all through my profession. This is simply the enjoyment of with the ability to play soccer.
Question: After Chandigarh Football Academy dropped you, you joined Tata Football Academy. What was the explanation behind their choice to drop you and the way did the transfer to TFA occur?
Answer: I needed to ensure that I can proceed enjoying soccer. I bought informed that with none cause as such that I’ll by no means turn out to be a footballer and thanks on your time and that was it. I packed my luggage, booked a one-way ticket to Jamshedpur and requested Ranjan Chowdhury who was there at that time of time, “Sir, could I request you for a trial and if you think I have the ability to play football i would love to be a part of Tata Football Academy and if I am not. At least the best in the country has said no that you don’t have it and that was the idea from when Chandigarh dropped me as I will never become a footballer. Tata Football Academy gave me the opportunity which I am grateful for and that was the beginning of the journey.
Question: How was your mental health at that time as mental health wasn’t really spoken about during those years in India?
Answer: I think everyone has two sides to it. You can either just get sad and accept it or you can learn from it and try going forward with it. I was on the latter part of it but obviously when someone says you will never become a footballer you question yourself, you question your abilities, you question your decisions. So what was my mental health at that point of time? It was a big question mark. Am I doing the right thing or not? But that being said, I think it’s imperative that we speak about mental health now in our country as well as much as its being spoken of in Europe because genuinely the last couple of years I have taken the help of mental coaches or psychiatrists or psychologists and they have helped me.
They have made me stronger mentally as well which in turn has provided me to play harder, play longer, play with a lot more confidence on the pitch as well.so I think it’s great that our country is moving towards it and I hope a lot more players do have the confidence to go speak because football in general as much as its physical, it’s a lot to do with mental. You know 5 to 7 days, when you are training for that weekend game, a lot of questions get asked by yourself in your own head before that game and I think it’s important to always be confident in your decision, always be confident in your abilities and make sure you can take that into your game day so it’s important.
Question: How was your East Bengal experience?
Answer: The fans in East Bengal actually made me feel at home, you know, the club in general was excited for me to join as much as I was excited to play for East Bengal, one of the biggest clubs in the country or one of the oldest clubs in the history of Indian football. So, I was excited to join the fans and made me feel at home. Culturally as well for me it’s just the happiness. I do not mind exploring new culture, you know, finding out and reliving or refinding new places and that’s there and at the same time, my mom is from Calcutta so it kind of made me feel at home. My mom is from Calcutta, the fans got to know and you know at one point I was just called the “boy came home”, in order that’s vital .That simply made me really feel at dwelling or simply I believe it is a very household tradition in Calcutta they usually simply stated you understand the “son is home” which in Bengali is gorgeous.
Question: What led you to leaving East Bengal in your first stint there?
Answer: I believe the membership determined that they didn’t need me to be part of their plans after which when BFC got here, the concept BFC delivered to the desk was very fascinating. A membership that had huge aspirations and I needed to be part of that and Sunil was going there as properly. We had an enormous dialog as properly saying, “listen I am here as well”. That simply strengthened that call of mine to go to Bangalore and that was that. I believe each me and East Bengal had completely different views at that time of time and I simply determined I wish to go to Bangalore and it was an excellent choice. I went there and I received the title as properly within the first 12 months. The group is considered one of my favourite groups. The boys in that group are considered one of my favourite boys to win video games with. It was an incredible expertise to be part of Bangalore’s first ever title.
Question: What’s your evaluation of ISL? Is it serving to the nationwide group?
Answer: I believe transition takes time. Let’s break it down a bit of for you with the nationwide group as such. When Igor Stimac took management, lots of people questioned the place are the wins, the place are the outcomes and now we lastly see outcomes. With that being stated, we should always deliver it right down to membership soccer now. I’ve seen Indian soccer develop. There are a variety of names being spoken now which can be enjoying for the nationwide group. It is the very best league within the nation. When you do issues, issues get questioned. Has it helped bettering in soccer? A 100% sure. Is there an extended journey to go? Yes. But on the identical time, if golf equipment should be performing properly, the league can’t be blamed.
It’s the membership’s choice or the membership’s views that must be helped out and that must be consistent with successful issues and if the membership’s in line to win issues,why not? You bought Mumbai metropolis for example. You bought Odisha FC now, who’re successful video games. You have gotten East Bengal now again within the ranks. You have gotten Mohun Bagan Super Giant,now we have seen an excellent East Bengal group being constructed. BFC’s at all times been there. So we’re competing in Asia. The wins will come. It’s about being affected person and bettering and studying out of your losses.
Question: Do you’ve got any India comeback plans?
Answer: I haven’t got any such plans. I really like being pit-side. I really like commentating and you understand reporting and being an professional from the facet of the pitch. I need to have the ability to assist youthful era, with understanding that soccer is not only about 90 minutes. You additionally must focus in your food plan, concentrate on what you eat, focus in your dietary supplements.
Myprotein (Robin is their model ambassador) and we imagine in the identical targets the place your diet, your supplementation is as vital as soccer. If you get well properly, relaxation properly, you food plan properly, it is nice. You will carry out higher. I believe these are a few issues I’m engaged on and other than that, I’ve bought a podcast which I’m constructing upon, the place I wish to painting Indian soccer in a unique mild and hopefully that comes out quickly as properly.
Question: Finally, your opinion on Igor Stimac changing Stephen Constantine because the India head coach?
Answer: I believe the outcomes for Igor Stimac speaks for itself. You have gotten 400-plus minutes of India not shedding a recreation. Eleven video games unbeaten. So these outcomes communicate for Stimac the identical. Whereas Stephen Constantine stepped down, that is a call that he took himself. For me, he is a good man, he is a good coach as properly however that being stated,all people has selections to make and selections to take and he determined it is his time to go away and Stimac is proving that why he’s right here. Ge is emotional, he’s very very related to Indian soccer. We are on the Asian Games as a result of he additionally had his hand in ensuring that he pushes the group to go to the occasion. So he’s doing his bit and he’s doing an excellent job at it. The outcomes are there to talk for itself.
Source web site: www.hindustantimes.com
