‘Norway experience made me better person’

India is improving in every aspect of football but it is not fast enough: Gurpreet

Braving the odds: Bengaluru FC goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels more Indians need to be brave enough and see the bigger picture and ply their trade abroad.

When Gurpreet Singh Sandhu moved to Norwegian club Stabaek in 2014 it was a step into the unknown. Not many Indian footballers had plied their trade abroad and for the handful who tried, success was scant.

Even for Gurpreet the nearly three-year stint involved only ten official games, but the newly-acquired Bengaluru FC goalkeeper insisted he was richer for the experience. Excerpts:

Is the move to India a step forward or backward?

If you compare the quality of football, everyone knows that [India is behind]. No disrespect to the players but we are still not that good. India is improving in every aspect of football but it is not fast enough. But I don’t think it’s a step back. I see this [signing for BFC] as an opportunity.

Was coming back to India always on the cards?

I was supposed to go to Portugal [top-division club Boavista F.C.] and then come on loan for one season here. This year they already had three goalies and I didn’t want to just be a number. I didn’t want to go just because I was marketable in India. I chose to wait and we were trying to fix the Portugal thing for the next summer. But because the time was so short — the window in Norway is open only for one month while it’s three months elsewhere — we had to make a decision. It was a very stressful time.

Was BFC the only club you wanted sign for?

I have always liked and respected BFC. There were other clubs who were interested. But Stabeak wanted a transfer fee. And regardless, BFC showed interest throughout.

That’s something I really appreciated. Also, international competitions like AFC Cup matter a lot. That was another reason I was keen on this move.

Is the move to Portugal still on?

I really hope so. I want to go to Europe. I don’t know why people think that I didn’t want to go a step higher [and came here]. I want to go higher. But only on my terms.

There have been examples of Indian players going abroad for the wrong reasons. It didn’t work and they came back. I don’t want that to happen to me.

Why don’t more Indians go abroad?

I really don’t know. I think it’s the mentality. They need to be brave enough and see the bigger picture. I went late. I wish I could have gone earlier because initially I wasn’t guided right. Players should go out in their teens and use that opportunity. It will be useful for your country and your career.

How did Norway improve you?

I can’t point out one thing. It’s like polishing a diamond. I worked day in day out under good coaches with the right training and guidance. More importantly, the Norway experience made me a better person. By living alone in a foreign country you learn a lot and become more responsible and independent.