A Singh in Bundesliga: New Zealander Sarpreet makes Bayern debut
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 15
Attacking midfielder Sarpreet Singh has became the first player of Indian descent to play in the German Bundesliga, making his debut in FC Bayern Munich’s 6-1 thrashing of Werder Bremen.
Fluent in Punjabi
Both my parents and my grandparents were born in India. But my brother, sister and myself were born in New Zealand. I have been to our ancestral village once in Punjab. That time I was just 11. I speak Punjabi quite fluently with my grandparents. Back home (in Auckland), Mamma cooks some lovely curries…
Creative midfielder
I love the game, the interplay, a pass in behind. I see my greatest strength in the creative area in attacking midfield, in the centre, but I also play out wide if it helps the team… As a young player, you have to improve everywhere, every day. I do extra shifts in addition to the normal training sessions and feel top fit.
Sarpreet Singh
Sarpreet, 20, was born to Punjabi parents in Auckland and honed his skills at Wellington Phoenix FC in Wellington before moving to the German Club in Munich.
He impressed during pre-season while playing against Real Madrid and Arsenal but had to be content with a place in the reserve team. He had featured on the FC Bayern bench eight times before making his official debut. Last summer, Sarpreet could make his official senior-team debut after impressing through the ranks with FC Bayern’s reserve side. In July this year, Sarpreet was adjudged the New Zealand Football Men’s International Player of the Year.
In the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, Sarpreet was part of the New Zealand’s squad that finished runners-up in Mumbai. Hosts India won the invitational tournament. The 5ft 7in playmaker earned his first New Zealand cap in March 2018 in a friendly against Canada, before scoring for New Zealand in a 1-2 defeat to Kenya at the Mumbai Football Arena before the match against India.
Indian connection
Sarpreet’s former teammates from Wellington Phoenix include strikers David Williams and Roy Krishna, who now ply their trade at Indian Super League side ATK. Interestingly, Fijian forward Krishna is also of Indian origin.
Sarpreet got his first taste of senior football as a substitute in an A-League game in February 2017 against Melbourne City, a sister club of ISL side Mumbai City FC. He made 39 league appearances for Phoenix before moving on to FC Bayern. FC Bayern are fourth on the Bundesliga table with 27 points, six points behind leaders RB Leipzig. The Bavarian giants have also made it to the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by topping their group under interim head coach Hansi Flick.
