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JCT's Balwant Singh Ready To Finally Don India Colours
The frontman has scored two I-League goals this season...
03-Nov-2009 11:42:20 PM
While Baljit Sahni has hogged the headlines so far this season, his strike partner at JCT, Balwant Singh, has also been in fine form for the Punjab side. To add to his good form in the league, Balwant has now been called up for the upcoming SAFF Cup, as part of an India U-23 side.
Speaking to Goal.com, Balwant said, "I'm really happy with my selection. It will be difficult, and whoever gets a chance will have to grab it with both hands, so we need to keep playing well."
The selection is all the more sweet for Balwant, who had earlier been called up to a senior national camp, but couldn't make the trip to Goa due to an accident.
"I was called up for the camp before the team left for Spain, but I missed it as I had a bike accident the day before I had to leave.
"Now that I've been selected again, I'm riding the bike very carefully!"
The JCT No.9 is in his second season in the I-League, after joining the JCT first-team in 2008. The Rahalli-born striker was a regular player for his school, based on which he was snapped up by JCT scouts, who brought him to their famed academy in 2007. A year later, he was playing in the I-League, rubbing shoulders with the best in the country.
He admits that his first season in the top flight was tough, but he's getting used to it now.
"At first it was tough to adjust. Playing in the academy or at school was totally different. Suddenly you have the best players playing against you, and they are much stronger physically as well, especially foreigners.
"It took me a little time to adjust, but I stuck it out, and I think I'm doing much better this season. I feel at home in the league now."
He also reserved praise for striker partner Baljit Sahni, and hailed their combination as a strike pair. He added, "Baljit is a very good player, and is a tough lad. He's got a little more experience than me, so that helps me in that way, and we have a good combination going."
The JCT-squad is a close-knit family of sorts, and while the striker lives with midfielder Jagpreet Singh, he maintains that the currently-injured Amandeep Singh is his closest friend in the squad.
While others like to take time off football, Balwant can live the sport all the time. When asked about his hobbies apart from the sport, Balwant replied, "I'm totally into football! I don't enjoy anything else as much, really."
On being forced to name one favourite pastime, the Akshay Kumar fan did conclude by saying that he enjoyed going on long drives with friends.
Hopefully now, the footy-obsessed lad wont have to think about much else, as he prepares himself for the biggest task of his career till now, the SAFF Cup, where he might lead the line for an inexperienced but talented Indian outfit.
Atishay Agarwal
Speaking to Goal.com, Balwant said, "I'm really happy with my selection. It will be difficult, and whoever gets a chance will have to grab it with both hands, so we need to keep playing well."
The selection is all the more sweet for Balwant, who had earlier been called up to a senior national camp, but couldn't make the trip to Goa due to an accident.
"I was called up for the camp before the team left for Spain, but I missed it as I had a bike accident the day before I had to leave.
"Now that I've been selected again, I'm riding the bike very carefully!"
The JCT No.9 is in his second season in the I-League, after joining the JCT first-team in 2008. The Rahalli-born striker was a regular player for his school, based on which he was snapped up by JCT scouts, who brought him to their famed academy in 2007. A year later, he was playing in the I-League, rubbing shoulders with the best in the country.
He admits that his first season in the top flight was tough, but he's getting used to it now.
"At first it was tough to adjust. Playing in the academy or at school was totally different. Suddenly you have the best players playing against you, and they are much stronger physically as well, especially foreigners.
"It took me a little time to adjust, but I stuck it out, and I think I'm doing much better this season. I feel at home in the league now."
He also reserved praise for striker partner Baljit Sahni, and hailed their combination as a strike pair. He added, "Baljit is a very good player, and is a tough lad. He's got a little more experience than me, so that helps me in that way, and we have a good combination going."
The JCT-squad is a close-knit family of sorts, and while the striker lives with midfielder Jagpreet Singh, he maintains that the currently-injured Amandeep Singh is his closest friend in the squad.
While others like to take time off football, Balwant can live the sport all the time. When asked about his hobbies apart from the sport, Balwant replied, "I'm totally into football! I don't enjoy anything else as much, really."
On being forced to name one favourite pastime, the Akshay Kumar fan did conclude by saying that he enjoyed going on long drives with friends.
Hopefully now, the footy-obsessed lad wont have to think about much else, as he prepares himself for the biggest task of his career till now, the SAFF Cup, where he might lead the line for an inexperienced but talented Indian outfit.
Atishay Agarwal
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