Gurmeet Singh reveals staying calm was key to his Durand Cup heroics

From the Nizams to the Highlanders, the shot-stopper’s rise to fame has been meteoric.

Gurmeet Singh, the 23-year-old goalkeeper from Narwana in the state of Haryana, has emerged as one of the best custodians between the sticks that the nation has to offer. In the recently concluded Durand Cup 2024, Gurmeet turned out to be NorthEast United FC‘s hero in the final against home favorites Mohun Bagan Super Giant.

In the final, he was beaten for the first time in the competition. However, NorthEast United FC successfully made a comeback and took the game to a penalty shootout. 

In the shootout, after making mistakes early on, Gurmeet Singh redeemed himself, making a strong comeback and saving two shots from Liston Colaco and Subhasish Bose. By doing so, he guided the Highlanders to their first trophy since the club’s inception, also clinching the Best Goalkeeper award for the tournament. 

In an exclusive interview with Khel Now, Gurmeet shared his journey from a place where there was less enthusiasm for football to becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the nation.

Journey towards taking up football as a profession

Gurmeet Singh expressed that because of his height, one of his seniors asked him to take on the responsibility of being a goalkeeper. He recalled, “I started my football journey in my school. There isn’t much of a craze for football in my area, but I started enjoying the game. As a goalkeeper, I performed well. They brought me to tournaments, and that is how the journey started.” 

DSK Shivajians FC, a Pune-based club, signed Gurmeet, where he played in the U-18 Youth League. In 2018, NorthEast United FC, the only Indian Super League (ISL) club from the Northeastern region of the country, signed him. For the Highlanders, he made his debut on 1st March 2019 against Kerala Blasters. 

Reuniting with his former club

Gurmeet Singh was given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the All-India Football Federation’s (AIFF) Player Status Committee, having put up a notice to Hyderabad FC for ‘just cause termination’ under Article 14bis of FIFA’s Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP). Following the same he rejoined NorthEast United FC. 

The Highlanders’ goal custodian reminisced, “There were a lot of financial problems and instability with Hyderabad FC last season. We faced difficulties, so I chose to come back to NorthEast United, where I started my ISL journey. Here, I have experience, and things are more stable.” 

Talking about coach Juan Pedro Benali’s impact on him, Gurmeet Singh said, “The coach always motivates us, pushes us in training so that we give our best. If we make mistakes, they help us to understand things better. We players need motivation, which the club’s coaches give, and that’s how we won the Durand Cup.” 

Recovering from setbacks in the Durand Cup final

In the Durand Cup final, Jason Cummings missed the first penalty. However, as Gurmeet Singh’s foot was not on the goal line, the referee directed the penalty to be retaken. This time, Cummings held his nerve, beat the keeper, and scored.

Despite this initial mistake, Gurmeet stayed tall and saved two shots from Liston Colaco and Subhasish Bose. Talking about it he said, “When the first incident happened, I tried to stay calm and not dwell on it because I had to focus on the next four penalties and give my best. Thankfully, I was able to save two of them.” 

“We had done our homework. It was a knockout match, and we knew it could go to penalties. Along with the coaches and technical team, we analyzed the players and watched their previous goals, their movements, and preferred positions. With all our efforts, we succeeded in winning the final.” Gurmeet Singh expressed his gratitude to all his teammates, coaches, and staff who work for the club. 

On nailing down a spot as the Blue Tigers’ number one

Gurmeet Singh has received a national call-up several times but has not yet secured a spot in the main squad as the first-choice goalkeeper. In the 2022 Asian Games, he played a game against China in the first group match. After a hectic journey, the Indian football team was thrashed by the home Chinese side, who inflicted a 5-1 loss on the visitors. 

Talking about his chances with the Indian team, he said, “The dream of all footballers is to play for the national team, and I will work hard to achieve that goal.” 

ISL expectations

In response to a question from Khel Now about his expectations, Gurmeet Singh concluded the interview by saying, “We are focusing on each game, trying to improve, and giving our best in every match. That’s how we are approaching the ISL.”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.