I want to make a difference in every game I play: Sony Norde

Mumbai City FC’s Sony Norde

Mumbai City FC have turned on the style in the last three games and have scored nine goals in their last three games. Where Sunil Chhetri has stolen the headlines for netting six of those nine goals, it’s been Mumbai City FC’s Haitian winger Sony Norde who has been at the heart of almost all of those nine goals.

Having been directly involved in four of those nine goals, with three assists and one goal, Sony Norde has set the wings on fire in Mumbai.

Speaking to Sportskeeda in an exclusive interview, Sony spoke about his relationship with Sunil Chhetri, how his Coaches at Mumbai City FC have been motivating him, his footballing idol and how it all started for him as a footballer.

Here are the Excerpts

SK: Sony, when did you start playing football?

SN: I was always passionate about football from a very young age and I used to play football with my friends in school. In Haiti, everyone loved football, so probably from the age of 5 or 6 I used to play football.

When did you decide to become a professional footballer?

One day when I was playing football with my friends, a guy saw me playing and he felt that I had too much quality so he offered my parents to shift me to a new school where they did not have to pay any fees. So while playing for the school I played a tournament in my city Grand’Anse, I got selected to play for the Haiti U-10 team.

That’s when I felt that I wanted to become a footballer. I went on to play for the Haiti U-14, U-17, U-19 and now eventually play for the senior team.

While you were growing up playing football, whom did you idolize?

Riquelme of Argentina was my favorite player. He was my idol. I loved him very much and took the free-kicks. I was a great fan of his and used to watch his matches. But today, my idol is Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. I feel he is one of the best. He has too much quality.

You are pretty similar to Eden Hazard in terms of style. Can we say you are the Eden Hazard of Mumbai City FC?

Maybe. I try to be like him, but he is way too good. He has far too much quality

You had a fantastic season with Mohun Bagan where you won the I-League. Were you expecting offers from the ISL after that kind of performance?

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to be playing in the ISL. I was expecting to be back home with my family. But then I got an offer from Mumbai City FC. I was delighted with it. I knew the ISL had many great players and when I got that opportunity to play with the likes of Nicolas Anelka I decided to take it. It was an easy decision for me.

You have made a great start to your Mumbai City FC career. Assistant Coach Oscar Bruzon said he gives you a lot of freedom on the pitch. How much has it helped?

Yes, definitely it has helped a lot. He always speaks to me before the game for 5-10 minutes. He says that if you don’t play well, Mumbai City won’t be able to do anything. I don’t know if it really is that way, but that gives me a lot of motivation before the game.

How is Nicolas Anelka as coach? What does Nicolas Anelka expect from you in games?

I think it’s really good to have Nico as our coach. He is a great player and has lot of experience. He always asks me to try and beat the defence as that would help me score a goal or assist a teammate. I always look to make a difference in every game that I play.

There has been lot of talks about your combination with Sunil Chhetri on the pitch. But how do you get along with each other off the pitch?

Sunil has a great quality as a player and he is also a very nice guy. We played against each other in the I-League and know each other’s games. When we came to Mumbai City, we have known each other even well. We speak a lot with each other about the game and that has helped us form a better understanding with each other and that can be seen on the pitch as well.

After making so many goals for others, you finally scored your first goal against NorthEast United. Do you feel that was a just reward for your efforts?

I knew the goal could come any moment. But I wasn’t just looking to score the goal. I was happy to assist my teammates for their goals as we are a team after all. But I was happy to score my first goal in the ISL and hope that was just the start of many more to come.