Kolkata: Jeje Lalpekhlua, the sensation from Mizoram has been going through a tremendous form since the ISL in Indian football. he has been regularly scoring goals for his country, club or franchisee. He has scored a total of 18 goals for Bagan in all competitions, the most by any in the team. This is not the end as he wants more. Even, last evening he has scored a hattrick against lajong in a 5-0 riot to almost guide his team to the grand finale of the Federation Cup 2016. We were fortunate to have Jeje with us after the match and he answered a lot of questions. Here are the excerpts as follows:
Q: Scoring a hattrick in a semi-final match of Fed Cup. How are enjoying the moment?
Jeje: Oh its a great feeling and an amazing experience too. Scoring a hattrick in a semi-final match and that too in your team’s winning cause always satisfies you.
Q: Whom would you like to give the credit for your hatrrick?
Jeje: We play as a team. Its a total team effort and everybody is equally responsible for my hattrick and the team’s win.
Q: Which one is special for you? Scoring the hattrick or Mohun Bagan winning?
Jeje: Obviously Mohun Bagan winning. I do not want my individual performance to be highlighted or talked about. If you guys give the credit to my team, i will be more than happy.
Q: You took your team to the finals almost single handedly. Do you think the return leg will be little bit easy?
Jeje: No, who said we are through. remember Lajong is a very tough opponent at their fortress. In football, anything can happen at anytime. There is no scope to be complacent.
Q: What is your next target?
Jeje: There is no such target. As long as we are winning and I am happy. I want to win trophies for my club and winning the Federation Cup will be a great achievement for us.
Q: You were not at your very best last season. But this year things have changed a lot since ISL. What is the reason behind your reformation?
Jeje: I was injured last year. But this year I have worked a lot on my fitness during the off-season. That is why I am fit and fine this year an d available for all the matches for the full 90 minutes.
Q: U have scored a total of 18 goals for Mohun Bagan this season in all competitions, the highest by any. How will you rate yourself?
Jeje: It feels good. But I rate myself in the matches of the AFC Cup when I score against foreign clubs. Those goals gives me a lot of pleasure and happiness because scoring against those teams is not easy in an Asian competition.
Q: Whom will you give the credit for your success this year?
Jeje: Stephen Constantine and Sanjoy Sen. They both have been special to me. They both have been showing confidence in me and keeps motivating me. Sanjoy Sir has been giving a lot of opportunities so that I get into the habit of scoring in every match.
Q: To whom will you dedicate today’s hattrick?
Jeje: I would like to dedicate it to my mother, Hnunpuii. Happy Mothers day mom.
Q: You have established yourself as a lone Indian striker who is scoring goals consistently in the crowd of so any foreign strikers. What is the chemistry behind it?
Jeje: No, I am not looking at it like that. I am getting opportunities so I am performing well and all the foreigners and Indians are helping me. I cannot differentiate between them. Without their assists I would not have scored these number of goals.
Q: You missed a penalty in the derby which cost you the match. You could have become a hero but you ended being a zero. How do you see that?
Jeje: These are part and parcel of the game. It can happen in any sport. You have to take it sportingly. i have forgotten that long time back. Now, I am looking forward to something else. Everyday, I get up in the morning and think what new I can do. What new skills I can learn. I want to develop myself a lot.