FOOTBALL LEGEND BAICHUNG BHUTIA SAID THE MEDIA THAT SANDESH JHINGAN IS GOING TO BE THE FUTURE OF INDIAN FOOTBALL .
India were excellent in defence. It was few lapses in concentration that cost them dear. Iran came at them when they least expected it, but cannot be an excuse. As Indian coach Stephen Constantine put it, "Iran scored when they weren't supposed to score. Two goals in five minutes killed us. We cannot afford to make such mistakes. We lost focus and concentration." Perhaps, that's something Jhingan and his men at the back could learn from the game.
BY IMPRESSIVE FOOTBALL HE WAS AWARDED AS THE EMERGING PLAYER OF ISL SEASON 1 , WAS AWARDED BY THE AIFF FOR THE BEST YOUNG PLAYER AND IS BEING ON THE SHORT LIST FOR THE EMERGING PLAYER AWARDED BY FPAI.
SANDESH JHINGAN IS AMONG THE FEW INDIAN MILLIONAIRE OF ISL.
HE PLAYED VITAL ROLE IN KERALA BLASTERS FC LAST SEASON AND HE HELPED THEM TO REACH TO THE FINAL SPOT .
SOON AFTER THE ISL HE GOT A CALL FROM INDIAN NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM AND HE PLAYED TOO AND HE PROVED HIS WORTH IN THE GAMES ESPECIALLY AGAINST ASIAN FOOTBALL GIANTS IRAN.
. Asia's top ranked team had as many as five shots on goal in the second half alone, but then India defender Sandesh Jhingan foiled as many — if not more — chances. It is safe to say Jhingan played the game of his life. The 22-year-old, who began his career at United Sikkim, has battled his way into the national side, sometimes fighting opponents and mostly fighting himself. In a sizeable portion of the five years of his senior career, injury has laid him low — even during the two qualifiers against Oman and Guam.
But given his impressive outing against Iran on Tuesday, it appears Jhingan is now here to stay. "I picked Sandesh for my team when he was 17," Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia told Mirror on Wednesday. "I immediately realised the kind of character he has. He's someone who is physical, strong with the ball and quick in the defence. Playing for United Sikkim and training under the coach here, he quickly learnt how the way the world plays and moulded himself on those lines.
If there's anyone in India who has the quality to play abroad, then it has to be Jhingan." Against Iran, Jhingan led the virtual six-man defence (with two midfielders always hanging out at the back). There were several moments when Jhingan stood at the centre and marshalled his teammates, blocking Iranian raids and pushing back when the opportunity afforded it. For most of the time, Jhingan himself shouldered the burden, throwing himself in the path of an Omid Ebrahimi shot or an Andranik Teymourian move. When Iran's 'Messi' Sardar Azmoun got too close, Jhingan slid his way in to clear for a corner. At other times, he neatly anticipate Vahid Amiry's crosses and headed it away.
"A defender may be big and he may be good with tackles but he also needs to have a footballing brain to anticipate where the ball would move or what the opponent player might try to do," said Bhutia, Jhingan's long-time mentor at United Sikkim. "I feel Sandesh has that quality in him in a way that he was ready with a block every time Iran made an attempt on goal. It's something that he picked up by experience — in United Sikkim, Mumbai FC and most importantly at the ISL last year, where he was the best Indian in the league."
But given his impressive outing against Iran on Tuesday, it appears Jhingan is now here to stay. "I picked Sandesh for my team when he was 17," Indian football legend Bhaichung Bhutia told Mirror on Wednesday. "I immediately realised the kind of character he has. He's someone who is physical, strong with the ball and quick in the defence. Playing for United Sikkim and training under the coach here, he quickly learnt how the way the world plays and moulded himself on those lines.
If there's anyone in India who has the quality to play abroad, then it has to be Jhingan." Against Iran, Jhingan led the virtual six-man defence (with two midfielders always hanging out at the back). There were several moments when Jhingan stood at the centre and marshalled his teammates, blocking Iranian raids and pushing back when the opportunity afforded it. For most of the time, Jhingan himself shouldered the burden, throwing himself in the path of an Omid Ebrahimi shot or an Andranik Teymourian move. When Iran's 'Messi' Sardar Azmoun got too close, Jhingan slid his way in to clear for a corner. At other times, he neatly anticipate Vahid Amiry's crosses and headed it away.
"A defender may be big and he may be good with tackles but he also needs to have a footballing brain to anticipate where the ball would move or what the opponent player might try to do," said Bhutia, Jhingan's long-time mentor at United Sikkim. "I feel Sandesh has that quality in him in a way that he was ready with a block every time Iran made an attempt on goal. It's something that he picked up by experience — in United Sikkim, Mumbai FC and most importantly at the ISL last year, where he was the best Indian in the league."
India were excellent in defence. It was few lapses in concentration that cost them dear. Iran came at them when they least expected it, but cannot be an excuse. As Indian coach Stephen Constantine put it, "Iran scored when they weren't supposed to score. Two goals in five minutes killed us. We cannot afford to make such mistakes. We lost focus and concentration." Perhaps, that's something Jhingan and his men at the back could learn from the game.
TODAY HIS PLACE IN INDIAN FOOTBALL FANS MUCH THAN OF SUNIL CHETTRI AND BAICHUNG BHUTIA .
ONE OF HIS SPECIALITY IS THAT HE NEVER FEAR THE OPPONENTS AND HIS FEARLESS ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE OPPONENTS .
NOW HE IS AMONG THE TOP VALUABLE PLAYER OF KERALA BLASTERS FC .
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