I-league has been full of surprises, says Jeakson

Indian Arrows' Jeakson Singh talks about his experience in the I-League so far and about his side being perceived as the underdog in the tournament.

"We do everything together on the pitch as a single unit and that is where our strength lies," said Jeakson Singh on his side, the Indian Arrows.

The ongoing I-League has been “exciting and full of pleasant surprises”  for Jeakson Singh, who is widely known for scoring India’s first goal in a FIFA tournament . He continues to hunt for an I-League goal, while his team, AIFF’s developmental side Indian Arrows, is  searching for a top four finish in the league.

In an interview, Jeakson talks about his experience in the league so far, the FIFA U-17 World Cup, the Indian Arrows and a lot more.

EXCERPTS:

Question: Given that you were India’s first and sole goal-scorer in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, is there any pressure to score goals in the I-League?

Answer: My job as a midfielder is to provide support to the defence and the forwards as per the situation. If I get a chance to score I will take it, but there is no pressure on me to score. If the opportunity comes, like it did against Colombia in the FIFA U-17 World Cup, I will not shy away from doing what is needed.

How has the I-League experience been for you?

The I-League experience has been exciting and full of pleasant surprises. Right from the first match, every second spent on the pitch has been nothing short of extraordinary. At the end of the day we are sharing the pitch with some of the best players of the country and that in itself is a big accolade for us.

What are the challenges you have faced while playing in the I-League?

The level of the I-League is very high. There are players who can literally change the outcome of a match with a swing of their feet and that fused with high intensity has certainly been one of the challenges. The teams in the league are very tactically organised and have much more experience under their belts as compared to us, which proves to be the difference in crunch matches.

How is the chemistry and composure within the Indian Arrow s?

We have been together longer than some of the club teams and hence, we have a bond of brotherhood established between us. We do everything together on the pitch as a single unit and that is where our strength lies. We play as a unit, attack as a unit and defend as a unit.

What does it mean to be the youngest side in the league?

It usually means we are the underdogs in every match. However, we rely on that underdog card and have stunned teams in the league so far with our skills and confidence. The experience the tournament has provided and will provide will be immense for us in the coming years. It will certainly help us to become refined players.