Goalkeeper Amrinder Singh has been instrumental in Pune FC’s impressive performances this season. Having played a key role since the start of the season, Amrinder has so far notched up 20 appearances while keeping six clean sheets since October, helping Pune FC to runners-up finishes in the Durand Cup and the King’s Cup.
The young shot-stopper who has been called up for the Under-23 National Camp in Goa has shown ample proof of his brilliance and talent at Pune FC over the years. From winning the U20 I-League title in 2012 to becoming India’s number one at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea last year, Amrinder has definitely made a name for himself in the national circuit.
We caught up with the young Punjabi for quick chat ahead of the National Camp.
Excerpts;
What was your first reaction when you heard about your selection for the Under-23 National Camp?
Oh, I came into the room and jumped. I called up my folks back home in Punjab and told them the news. Of course they were very happy. But then it all sank in and I got back to focussing on the game against Royal Wahingdoh. Of course I managed to keep a clean sheet too for the game that day, but later on I was reflecting on how important it is to keep such clean sheets, and how big an achievement it is when you look at it in terms of being a part of a national team camp. I think that I have only grown, over the years, as a footballer, these experiences have all helped in creating the foundation for my game.
This is not your first brush with the National team. You have been a part of the squad for last year’s Asian Games and have also played for Pune FC at the AFC Cup in 2014. How important have these international exposures been for you?
The level of football only improves with such exposures. In fact, even when I played my first international game against Vietnam’s Hanoi T&T FC during the AFC Champions League, it was a very important 90 minutes for me. Yes we lost that game, but what it gave me was the much needed exposure to understand world football. See, watching the games and playing them are two very different things. Like watching a Real Madrid team play is beautiful but playing an international game is very challenging, overwhelming and at the same time one of the most fulfilling experiences in terms of learning and executing. Coming back to the question, how important are the international experiences in sync with the national team camp, I would say very. One of the things is that I am not a rookie anymore. So now there is a fair idea of how games are played on the international stage. I mean I know how I would react in an international game to certain situations. There is a huge change in my style as a goalkeeper and that experience will be very important in the camp.
You have repeatedly mentioned the importance of international games. Can you specifically tell what helped you learn?
For instance during the AFC Champions League we lost to Hanoi 3-0 but I could play for the whole 90 minutes. In the formative years of all footballers, the ability to endure such pressure is an important thing. Sure now if we play an international game, I know I am better prepared than the previous experience. Am I the best, no not really, I have a lot to learn and I am continuing to learn. But this kind of experience also comes back to the I-League or the other tournaments like the Durand Cup or the Federation Cup. All these experiences help me or anyone as a footballer to only improve, enrich and grow.
You mentioned different playing styles, could you tell how is it different as compared to the I-League, when you play international?
Well it used to be different, earlier but now the speed, style and accuracy is pretty much the same in the I-League as it is on the international level. I am very happy that I am improving and adapting my own playing style to suit the same both on the national front as well as, hopefully on the international one too.
