XtraTime Web Desk: Star Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan has seen it all. From being a third division club reject in Kolkata, the footballer from Chandigarh is now the hottest property of Indian football. His meteoric rise to stardom is quite an inspirational story for budding footballers in the country. Not so long ago Jhingan was at crossroads of his career when he was rejected by third division clubs of Kolkata maidan. But his steely nerves and rock solid determination helped him overcome all obstacles.
In an interview to AIFF TV, Jhingan revealed, “It was during the starting phase of my career. Back then I was looking for clubs and I appeared for quite a few trials at a number of clubs in Kolkata — even in the second and third divisions. But I was rejected by all.”
He added, “That is when I realised that I had to work harder in order to realise my dream,” he smiled. And that was when he was “picked-up by United Sikkim Football Club.”
“That really was a dream come true for me. A couple of months back, I had been rejected by so many clubs in Kolkata, and now I was joking with Renedy bhai and Bhaichung bhai,” Sandesh stated. “We used to train under coach Stanley Rozario when we saw Renedy (Singh) bhai taking some freekicks,” recalled Jhingan. “I just felt like going on my knees and kissing his feet. When I shook hands with Bhaichung bhai, I didn’t feel like washing my hands afterwards.”
The struggles early on in his career have toughened the 26 year old defender as he has never looked back since. According to Jhingan, “There’s immense pressure when you’re captaining a nation of 1.3 billion people,” said Jhingan. “The eyes are on you, and the stakes are high. But these are situations that I tend to enjoy a lot. There is, after all, an immense honour in wearing the captain’s armband.”
“Not everybody gets the opportunity to lead a country of 1.3 billion. Perhaps when I look back, I could tell my kids about such experiences,” he continued.
“But the leadership role does not just end with the guy wearing the armband, it’s about all the players. You may be the captain, but you still have to do your job on the pitch,” signed off Sandesh.