Interview with Robin Singh - Tata Football Academy (TFA) Graduate and acquired by East Bengal after finishing with the TFA.

2010 is probably a great time to start a footballing career in India. Sunil Chhetri has joined the MLS, India is preparing for its Asia Cup appearance after more than 2 decades or so and there are rumors of an IPL like event for football too.

With this background, Robin Singh, the TFA product, at 6 feet 2 inches enters the scene as India look for young and tall players.

Robin Singh

Harmit : Please tell us about your childhood?

Robin: I was born and raised in Noida (near New Delhi). I come from a very close knit family and am the youngest of three children. I had the fullest support of my parents who provided me with the best of education and my requirements. Most of my childhood was spent with my mother screaming at me to study and repairing window panes I broke in neighborhood playing football or cricket.

Harmit: At what age would you say, you knew in your heart that you could be a serious footballer or sports person?

Robin: At the age of about 13 years my father asked me to pursue the game I love and enjoyed most-without doubt it was football.

Harmit : What was life at the Chandigarh Football Academy (CFA) like?

Robin: It was tough in the beginning because that was the first I went away from my family and not used to the basic living conditions. It was my first experience of living in a hostel and actually forgettable with the type of people around me and the type of diet available. My parents had made arrangements for additional diet which was disliked CFA . However, I just wanted to enhance my football talent and move further which kept me going at CFA .

Harmit : How did you deal with missing of the penalty kick in the Subroto Cup finals in 2005? Were you able to put it out of your mind or did it linger and play on your mind?

Robin: Well ,it was tough in the beginning as you know that was the final penalty because of which my team lost. But it’s been a long time and I am over that part, it does come back sometimes but it’s all right because if u can remember the good times why not remember the bad times as well sometime.

Harmit : Do you think it was the penalty kick miss or was it other things that led to you and CFA parting ways?

Robin: CFA had certain reservations about my independent thinking and attitude which they considered as arrogant. It is a typical non-professional academy where the coaches had no weight age of their opinions. The coaches tried their best to retain me at the academy but were over ruled by the non sportsmen officials. I would have been satisfied had my expulsion been on grounds of missing a penalty rather than doubting my talent and saying that I have stagnated. I am glad and grateful to persons responsible for my expulsion otherwise I too would have stagnated like players who have passed out of CFA in recent past and have reached nowhere.

Harmit : At a very young age, you had to deal with sporting adversity in a sense? Do you think it has made you stronger and better prepared for the life of a professional footballer?

Robin: With parents like mine there is no adversity. They have taught me to face life as it comes and not to be discouraged with any failures. However, everytime I have been put down I have come back stronger and meaner. I also believe that you can’t put a good player down and I am where I am today because of my hard work, dedication , parental support and God’s grace.

Harmit : How did the move at the Tata Football Academy come about? It must have been a major relief after parting ways with the CFA?

Robin: My father wanted me to train in England but it was my firm intention to prove myself in India . I went for my trails to TFA and was immediately selected Moving to TFA was biggest step of my football career. Unlike CFA this academy was based on merit and not on whims and fantasies of beaucrats. TFA was the turning point of my life. What and where I am today is all because of TFA. I would like to thank them for everything. My stay at TFA has been most enjoyable and a rich experience. I am indeed thankful to the people responsible for my expulsion from CFA.

Harmit : How do you compare and rate the CFA and the TFA?

Robin: Comparing CFA to TFA is like comparing a ambassador car to rolls Royce!! Tata Steel has much much higher ethics and values!!

Harmit : How did you find your 3 months in the UK? How far ahead was the playing standard there with the one that you had been exposed to? How would you compare the playing standard in Germany when you were there?

Robin: My three months there were quite helpful since coming back from there I have grown on the basis of intelligence and the standards over there are quite high but once you start playing with them there is not much of a difference game wise but yes the game is a lot more physically challenging. In Germany I didn’t find much of a difference. They just are more technically sound and scientific than us and they have better facilities than us and facilities do count.

Harmit : You were a part of the India U16 at one point in time? Is making it back to the India squad in the back of your mind?

Robin: I shall and will always look forward to playing for my country. Though presently I am not part of the Indian team I have no regrets. I do respect the vision of Indian coaches and I earnestly look forward to represent my country. Be assured I will certainly be a part of the Indian team in near future.

Harmit :.What was the reaction of the TFA cadets when they heard that Sunil Chhetri had made it to the Kansas City Wizards? Would you say that all the young Indian footballers have now a real trail blazer to look upto in that sense?

Robin: I am indeed pleased for Sunil Chhetri for playing with Kansas City. I wish him the best and look forward to his success. I too had offer to play abroad but have declined the same as I still want to prove myself in India.

Harmit : Many thanks for sparing time for us for this interview and we wish you the very best.