AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: A fighter on the pitch and a smiling face off it, Jeakson Singh could probably be called the ‘gentle giant’. Towering at 6 ft, the midfielder was included in the Indian U-17s after being scouted from the Minerva Academy. In an in-depth interview, Jeakson talks at length about his journey, the Indian U-17s, the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India and a lot more. EXCERPTS:

Tell us something about your journey

I come from a family of athletes. My father used to play almost every sport and my mother used to be a basketball player, so sports was something which was already there in our family. However, there was a small ground near to our house and that is where I used to play football in my early days. My brother and my friends used to play football there every day and hence I started to play with them and gradually fell in love with the sport.

Was the journey to the Indian U-17 World Cup Team tough?

It was tough but it was exciting and at sometimes it taught me to always think about the bigger picture in life. There is a lot more forces at play in life than just what we see. The journey made me who I am today and I am thankful to AIFF for helping me throughout the process.

How excited are you for the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017 India?

I am honored to be a part of the Indian U-17 World Cup squad and I will do my best on the pitch. I think excited is an understatement to what I feel right now, I just want the FIFA U-17 World Cup to arrive and start playing.

How special is the bond between you and Amarjit Singh?

Amarjit is my cousin and my father used to coach both of us in football when we were very young. I share a very brotherly bond with him, we have helped each other along the way. There were times when he was my inspiration and motivated me to perform better in football.