Gurpreet Singh Sandhu to start for India against Kyrgyzstan: Stephen Constantine
Mumbai: Indian football team head coach Stephen Constantine confirmed after the national side’s 2-0 international friendly victory over Nepal at the Mumbai Football Stadium on Tuesday, that star goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will start in the AFC Asian Qualifier against Kyrgyzstan next week.
Gurpreet, who plies his trade in Norwegian club Stabaek, led the side out onto the pitch, in front of a 4,000-strong crowd at the Mumbai Football Stadium, on Tuesday.
While the 25-year-old was barely troubled by the Nepal forwards during the game, one particular counter attack by the visiting side left some unanswered questions in mind.
Towards the end of the first half, the Indian defence was caught napping, as Nepal forward Nawayug Srestha was played through from the half-way line. Srestha latched onto the ball with half the pitch, and the tall frame of Gurpreet in front of him.
While Gurpreet did manage to fend him off initially with a sliding tackle outside the box, Srestha managed to get back on his feet, to find a gaping goal in front of him; fortunately for Gurpreet, his shot was a couple of yards wide of the near post.
When asked why he did not give one of the other goalkeepers on the bench – Albino Gomes and Amrinder Singh – a run out in the game, Constantine said, “Gurpreet is the number one keeper. He needs games with the national team. He’s going to be the starter for next week.”
Constantine went on to state that he wanted Gurpreet to build some chemistry with the back-four, ahead of the crucial 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Kyrgyzstan, next week.
“I think he had quite a good game, so I didn’t want to change things from a goalkeeping perspective. We need to get him used to working with the back four,” said Constantine. “He’s not even in the country. So it’s very important for him to come for these games (international friendlies).”
The Englishman praised the Blue Tigers for their performance against Nepal, recalling a few bits of play that left the partisan crowd in awe of how much the team has improved under Constantine.
He said, “There was some great movement, some great interplay. That’s something that we’ve been working on. Getting the ball wide, and getting it in the box, I think Jeje’s (Lalpekhlua) goal was excellent build-up play, and excellent cross in by Rafique. Did a great job down the right wing.”
Constantine, who seemed to be in a jovial mood after his side’s 2-0 victory over their neighbours, also went on to joke about a perfect left-footed volley from centre back Sandesh Jhingan, the goal that put India in the lead in the second half.
“As for Sandesh Jhingan, I don’t think he’ll ever score another goal like that with his left foot,” said the Englishman, in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
“I thought it was going a mile above the bar. But again, that’s something we work on at set-plays, we try the work the ball around, and he took it well. Took it like a striker,” he said.
