Post spotlight players back to square one

After reaching a high with 11 goals in the tournament-the highest by any player for the Chandigarh team- dreams came crashing down for the talented striker when despite a breathtaking performance in the tournament,his name failed to appear among the 70-probables released by All India Football Federation for the Under-19 national camp to be held in Goa from July 12. “I was confident my name would be among the probables especially the way the tournament went for me. It has been my best performance till now and I must say winning the first junior national title for Chandigarh was a proud moment for me. So,I was shocked and sad at the same time not to see my name on the list. I am disappointed,” said a dejected Gagandeep.

It was Gagandeep’s poaching skill in front of the goal that played a crucial role in the team’s journey to the final. His hat-trick against Manipur in the quarter-final,his best in the tournament,helped the team break records and enter the semi-final. “There was no pressure on me despite wearing the captain’s arm-band. My other team-mates made it lot more easier for me which helped me in scoring lots of goals. It would have been fun to join my academy mates in the national camp but I am happy for them. I hope I will also get my chance soon,” said the Class IX student.

Two years before joining Chandigarh Football Academy in 2006,Gagandeep was already slugging it out on the paddy fields of Gurdaspur with his friends till he joined Hoshiarpur Academy in 2005. “My uncle Satnam Singh played football as hobby. It was due to him that I became interested in the game. After some time,I joined the Hoshiarpur Academy,where I learned the basics of the game. I was there for a year after which I decided to join CFA on hearing good words about it from my fellow friends,” Gagandeep,who got a chance to lead the team during the Administrator’s Challenger Cup in 2007,said.

Apart from Parminder Singh,JCT coach,it is his brother Maninder Singh,who plays for JCT,who has been an inspiration for him. “He has always motivated me to go for my dreams. He helps me out when my performance level is not good. And he boosts my confidence before crucial matches,” said the 18-year-old.

And as a teary-eyed Gagandeep gets up to celebrate the selection of his team-mates for the national camp,one thing is for sure- he commands the respect of his team-mates and the way his face lifts up on hearing the word football,his days might not be too far away.

Ruatfela misses out too
Ruatfela’s contribution under the bar might have gone unnoticed,especially with the limelight on Gagandeep,Akashdeep and Sumit Passi. However,coach Tejinder Kumar acknowledges his contribution and says the win wouldn’t have been possible without him. “We conceded just four goals in the national tournament and scored 25. He was fantastic under the bar and his crucial saves against good teams like Bengal,Manipur,Karnataka and Orissa helped us win the match,” said the former international. However,the AIFF had other opinions as Fela could not find his name among the probables for the Under-19 camp,thus joining Gagandeep to be kept out despite superlative performances for their team.