Sandhu sets lofty targets

It’s been a hectic few weeks for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The Indian international, the latest to undertake an European sojourn, was at the crossroads when his club Stabaek IF informed him that he would no longer be in their plans for the new season.

Though a few European clubs were interested in the Indian shot-stopper, none would guarantee Sandhu game time, something that the 25-year-old was keen on. “It was a very stressful. Things were going on back and forth for very long,” he said recalling his final few days in Norway.

“Interest from other (European) clubs were there, that was my first option. We were trying to convince them. But none would guarantee me game time.”

It was then when Bengaluru FC intervened and decided to sign Sandhu for an undisclosed fee. Though not his first choice, Sandhu is an happy man at Bengaluru. “I am loving it. Bengaluru is a very good city. BFC is a very professional club and I am really happy with the facilities on and off the pitch. I just want to make most of the experience,” he said following training session on Monday.

Being an understudy to Sayouba Mandé, the first-choice at Stabaek, Sandhu has inculcated a lot of his senior’s style in his game. The six-foot-four-inch ‘keeper is quick to get off the line, confident in the air and commands his area with a sense of authority -- qualities that have been on display whenever Sandhu has taken the post for the national side. But at Bengaluru, he thinks things could be different. “I think in the national team, we have a different setup and here, it’s totally different. I am lucky that I have that contrast. I can improve at all aspects if BFC like to play from behind. I would love to leawrn and play more.”

In all likelihood, Sandhu could make his debut for Bengaluru in the first leg of the AFC Cup inter-zonal semifinal tie against April 25 SC of North Korea on Wednesday. While not a lot is known about their opponent, the 25-year-old is confident of his side’s chances. “We have been analysing as much as we know about the North Korean side,” he said.

“We know it won’t be easy. They have come so far and there is a reason for that. It’s not going to be a walk in the park. It’s an international competition, at a good level, so I’m expecting a tough game.”

Though the disappointment of not being able to take his European journey ahead still lingers in Sandhu’s heart, he is confident of getting another chance soon.

“I hope so, really hope so. I want to go to Europe. Why not?
“I don’t know why people think that I didn’t want to go a step high. I want to go higher. But only on my terms.”