“Trolls Motivate Me to Perform and Play Better” : Robin Singh - INDIA

  

In a country where young strikers get limited opportunities, Robin Singh has been regularly featuring in I-League, first for East Bengal and now for Bengaluru FC. At senior level, Robin Singh caught everyone’s attention when he scored a brilliant goal for Tata Football Academy against East Bengal in 2009 IFA Shield. After signing for East Bengal, he found the net regularly, including a brace against Mohun Bagan in the high pressure Kolkata derby. Having scored 9 goals in the last season for Bengaluru FC, many of which came while playing as a substitute, Robin is aiming to make his presence felt in the upcoming Indian Super League for Delhi Dynamos, who picked him up from the ISL auction for INR 51 lakhs. Already a regular for the National Team, this well built striker has also represented India in youth teams. Indian Football presents exclusive interview with this 25 year old striker.

IFN : At an age of 25, with experience of playing for the national team and club football both at national and international tournaments (AFC Cup), would you say you are still a ‘work in progress’ ?

Robin Singh : Of course! You always learn something new at any point in your career. I am still fine tuning my skills. I have a lot to learn and have to train even harder, to be the best version of me as a football player.

IFN : Despite your relatively young age, you are one of the more experienced players in Stephen Constantine’s national squad. Tell us about your experience of working with Constantine.

RS :  That is very humbling of you to say. The coach’s word is the final word for us as a team. Being under Mr Constantine’s guidance, I have learnt and grown a lot. Playing with the team also helps us progress, because we learn from each other.

IFN : How different it is to play at Asian level for your club? Does that require special preparations?

RS : The teams have a different nature of play and their style is different. So for us it’s a new challenge. Such challenges help us as a team to hone our knowledge and skills even more.

IFN : Indian clubs rely heavily on foreign strikers. You are one of the few Indian strikers to have played consistently in I-League. How difficult it is for Indian strikers to make it big at club level?

RS : I always endorse hard work and believe that recognition comes when you work hard. If you are talented and produce results, you will get what you deserve.

IFN : Trevor Morgan and Ashley Westwood have believed in your potential and have given you ample opportunities. Please share your experiences of working with these coaches.

RS : Every coach comes with a different set of skills and knowledge and I have been extremely lucky to play under many different coaches. They have helped me grow, on and off the field, and I will always be grateful for the contribution they have made in my career.

IFN : Finally you will be able to represent your home city, Delhi, in the ISL. What are your goals for this ISL Season?

RS : I am very excited to be a part of Delhi Dynamos. Feels good to play for the hometown based club. As a football player, my goal has always been to work hard and deliver to the best of my capacities. I will have an extremely talented and experienced guidance team at the Delhi Dynamos. I will give my best for the team.

IFN : ISL will be very different from I-League. What are the major challenges you are anticipating?

RS : That’s what everyone is telling me! Honestly, I’ll have to wait and see what’s different. The little child in me is just excited to play some more football, with the best.
IFN : Comebacks have been a part of your story. Chandigarh Football Academy controversially expelled you, but you made it to Tata Football Academy (TFA), one of country’s premier football academies. Many prophesized your decline after your last season in East Bengal, but your contribution in Bengaluru FC’s success proved them wrong. How do you motivate yourself in such situation and script your comebacks?

RS : The unconditional love of my family, friend and fans is what really motivates me. They are my biggest critics. They’ve gone through it all with me. Knowing I have them watching my back, inspires me to give all I have, every day.

IFN : Your brace against Mohun Bagan in the high pressure Kolkata derby turned you instantly into celebrity among fans and Kolkata media. Tell us about the feeling of scoring in a Kolkata derby.

RS : It truly helped me set a milestone for myself, early in my career and helped me work harder and achieve bigger goals that I set for myself.

IFN : You always had a way with fans. East Bengal fans cheered for the roly-toly combination (Robin-Tolgay), while Bengaluru fans chant ‘who needs a batman when you have robin’.  What you have to say about that?

RS : It is very motivating and humbling experience to have fans come up with chants and praises like this. It’s a pleasure to hear them chant about me in the stadiums. Helps me play better.

IFN : You might be aware of the ‘Lord Robin trolls’ coming up whenever your performed below expectations. Do you find them funny or do they annoy you?

RS : Some of them are funny. Honestly, they motivate me to perform and play better.

IFN : Fans see you as bit of a brat. Is Robin Singh in personal life and dressing room a prankster as well?

RS : Yes! I am a bit mischievous! It’s more of a stress buster for me. To have some fun, making people laugh makes me happy.

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Delhi Dynamos FC has announce the signing of Spanish goalkeeper Toni Doblas. An experienced goalkeeper, he has played for top clubs like Real Betis, Napoli and Zaragoza. Toni Doblas is known for his skills in defending free kicks. He’s also strong in the air and has an impressive foot-work.

Having won the Coppa Italia with Napoli and Copa del Rey with Betis, Doblas brings on board invaluable experience and a winning mentality in the Dynamos’ squad.

Commenting on his signing with Delhi Dynamos, he said, “I am very excited to start a new adventure in my career and I am looking forward to be a part of this decorated team that Delhi Dynamos is building. I am confident that we will do very well this season and win our first title.”


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New coach Patrick Aussems will have to deal with ANFA if Nepal has to improve

This article was written before Nepal’s 0-0 draw against India on 31st August, 2015.

The national football team of Nepal is currently going through its worst phase spanning over two decades. The team has fallen to an all-time low in the FIFA rankings. There is no indication that it is making a comeback. Certainly, the seemingly endless struggle continues.

Given the sad state of affairs, uncertainty surrounds the future of Nepal football. Team Nepal’s success at the 1993 South Asian Federation Games in Bangladesh still remains the benchmark. Over the last twenty plus years, leave alone achieving the benchmark, the national team has not even come close to matching it. They had a golden opportunity to end the title drought in the last edition of the South Asian Federation Football Championship (SAFFC) held in Kathmandu in 2013, but they squandered it.

The real anger and frustration is that very little has been done by All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) under the corrupt, failed leadership of Ganesh Thapa to bolster the development of football. The football body has totally failed to provide players with an environment in which they can thrive and feel secure. Not surprisingly, active national players leaving the country for a secure and better future are on the rise, and it is growing at an alarming rate. The way things stand today; there is little hope that things will change for the better in the foreseeable future. We have the same incompetent, inept, dishonest people at the helm responsible for the stagnation of football for so long.

I reckon every football buff in the country knows Mr. Thapa led ANFA is the biggest problem Nepal football faces moving forward. ANFA is primarily responsible for building or rebuilding a successful national team, which unfortunately has not been the case. They have no credibility and lost morale high ground. Mr. Thapa remains high-handed, arrogant and dictatorial. He likes to remind his critics and rivals that he has power and support of FIFA and AFC. Despite everything, Team Nepal is gearing up for yet another edition of the SAFFC to be held in India later this year. As part of the preparation, they are scheduled to play against India in a friendly on 31st August in Pune, India (The result was 0-0).

With the American-Polish Coach Jack Stefanowski gone, following his disastrous stint with the national team, homegrown Dhurva KC stepped into his shoes. Coach KC shoulders responsibilities at a critical juncture with Nepal football at rock bottom and players morale at its lowest ebb. Upon his appointment as head coach, Mr. KC was quick to make a bold statement by comparing Nepal’s playing standards with India. “We are at par with India in terms of playing standards,” he said. No one doubts that we have a talented bunch of footballers. We all agree that they have the potential to perform much better. Sadly, they have been badly let down by a dysfunctional, implausible football body. The fact of the matter is that players are being held hostage by ANFA and constantly scapegoated and scorned for the team’s mediocrity. Players’ woes worsen by the day because of their inability to revolt against ANFA’s administrative debacle, bullying and intimidation.

Coach KC should not forget the fact that more than words, action and result matters the most, at the end of the day. Having been in the coaching business for a fairly long time, he is fully aware of the challenges he and the team faces, coupled with the complexities and dirty politics surrounding Nepali football. Like all coaches in the past, he is in the hot seat and under tremendous pressure to yield results. I do not believe he can succeed, not in the current setup.