Bengaluru FC’s goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu feels at home while playing for the club. Sandhu has been a rock between the posts for Bengaluru FC since 2017, he has established himself as one of the finest shot-stoppers in the Indian Super League (ISL) and has been a key pillar for the Indian national team.
The veteran has played more than 150 matches for the Blues and he is the only third goalkeeper to record 50 clean sheets in the ISL’s history.
Furthermore, the lanky custodian is also the only player to win the Golden Glove award on two occasions, having won it successive times in the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons.
“I’ve only played for technically three clubs, and I’ve been a professional for about 15 years now. You don’t see that very often. A lot of players keep moving around; the biggest example is Sunil (Chhetri) bhai. But again, sometimes in football, you find a place that you can call home, and you feel comfortable and also feel like, you know, it’s a place where you can push yourself and be in an environment where you can grow as a person, not only as a player, which is very important,” Sandhu said on In the Stands.
“With all due respect to other cities, I think Bengaluru is, you know, obviously one of the most livable cities. And that has been one of the factors for us to stay here. And again, for me, staying in Bengaluru is purely because now this club is like a family, which you can’t leave behind. It’s a family group. I’ve stuck with them because they’re my family. And I know the people in the club, outside the club, and in the stands, and (also there are) personal relationships with the fans. That is very rare. Although I’ve played only with a few clubs before, I’ve never experienced something like that. So, I think it’s the uniqueness here.”
Speaking on his deal with Bengaluru FC in the early days, Sandhu said he is grateful and thankful to the club for backing him.
“I’ve been fortunate and very thankful for the offers that I got back in 2018. I initially signed only for one year with Bengaluru FC. After spending time here and assessing the situation and everything, I thought, this is obviously one of the best places to be, win trophies, and build a legacy. I always wanted to come back to India, to a club where the bond is special, where the club is run in an immaculate way, people are professional, and everything is perfect,” Sandhu disclosed.
“I made my national debut also, my national debut in Bengaluru. So, it’s very, you know, there’s a story attached to it. I call it a home; that’s why,” he concluded.
