'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
India open their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification group stage with a match against Oman. The match will be played at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, one of the new emerging fortresses of Indian football, thanks to Bengaluru FC.
Apart from being a match that consists of two teams looking to get a good start to their World Cup qualification hopes, the match also has a great human connection to it. India's Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the number two goalkeeper, and Oman's captain and goalkeeper, Ali al Habsi, share more than just the fact that they both are goalkeepers.
From Oman to England via Norway
Both Sandhu and Al Habsi were first spotted as promising talents who could play abroad by Englishman John Burridge. The former footballer, who had a long career playing in the English leagues, notably for clubs like Aston Villa, Blackpool and Sheffield United, was the man who first saw the potential both Al Habsi and Sandhu had, and worked to send them to foreign shores.
He initially worked with Al Habsi for two years, before securing him a move to Lyn Oslo in Norway, where the goalkeeping coach was a friend, Espen Granli. The Oman captain played for the Norwegian giants for about 2 years, from 2003 to 2005, before moving to England, where he played at Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic.
He played for Bolton mainly as a reserve goalkeeper but impressed when he got the chance, as was seen in the game against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup. He made his first Premier League start against Wigan Athletic, the club he eventually became the first-choice goalkeeper for.
Following his move to Wigan in 2010, initially on loan, he impressed manager Roberto Martinez and Wigan fans so much, that he was voted Player of the Year for 2010-11, and was signed permanently in 2011. He has since then played all his club football in England with them, bar a one-month loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion, and is now a free agent.
Gurpreet's journey from East Bengal to Norway via England
Just like he scouted Al Habsi, Burridge saw Gurpreet for the first time when he was 19 years old, playing in the Kolkata derby for East Bengal. He was so impressed with his calm demeanour and reflexes, that he thought it fit to try and get him opportunities to play abroad.
Speaking about Sandhu, he said, “At six foot five inches he makes Al Habsi look small. He kicks the ball from box-to-box from the floor and throws it like a spear. I first saw him play in the Kolkata derby aged 19 in front of 110,000 people. I have absolutely no doubt about him, he has the mentality to succeed and wants it desperately.”
Sandhu was also given a chance for a trial at Wigan Athletic in 2012 for two weeks, thanks to Burridge’s connection with Ali al Habsi, who helped arrange it for him. The 23-year-old eventually moved to Stabaek in Norway, signing for them in August last year, and made his first appearance in January this year, thus becoming the first Indian after Mohammed Salim in 1936 to play for a top-flight club in Europe.
Incidentally, the goalkeeping coach at Stabaek is Espen Granli, the same man who was Al Habsi’s coach at Lyn Oslo.
Both of them remain indebted to Burridge
When asked about Burridge’s role, Sandhu said, Budgie has been the main reason behind me coming to Norway, the day I met him changed everything. Since then it was all about Europe and he believed in me even when I didn’t. I hope I make Budgie proud by trying to achieve what Ali did. But I can only try my best.”
Similarly, Al Habsi, who was just 16 years old when Burridge approached him, said, “Imagine. Just imagine. I was 16, from Oman, and here he was telling me I would play in England. I took it as a joke. From the next day, I started training with him and within two years I was told Big Sam (Allardyce) wanted me at Bolton."
Is Sandhu the next Al Habsi?
When asked about their similar career trajectories, Sandhu, in an exclusive interview with Gulf News, said, “There’s no pressure to be the next Al Habsi but there is to become the first Singh,” he told Gulf News. “I think about it [playing in England] sometimes and it’s what I desire. I wish to do something similar. But I think for now I just want to see myself playing regularly week-in-week-out in the first team.”
“My career goals are to get better and play regularly and keep testing myself by jumping to higher leagues and teams. But I think I will only go when Budgie and Epsen think I’m ready, and I trust their judgement.”
When Al Habsi was asked about Gurpreet, he said, “He’s young and it’s a good move, but he needs to be patient. When I was in Norway, I spent half the season on the bench. But when I got the chance, I made sure I was the first-choice goalkeeper for the next three years. He’s really tall and he loves his training. I think he has a good future.”
It remains to be seen how their career trajectories look like in the future, but for now, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is doing very well in Norway, and just like Ali al Habsi, will need to take advantage of the opportunities when they come knocking.
In all of this, the one man who remains the common denominator is John Burridge, the former professional goalkeeper, who had the eye to spot their talent, and the trust in their abilities to stand by them in times of need.
