BENGALURU: Robin Singh netted the winner as Bengaluru FC won the Federation Cup football tournament defeating Dempo to get off to a flying start in the new season.
The 24-year old has been in the shadows of his captain Sunil Chhetri, but has proved to be the danger man on numerous occasions by hitting the net from the most impossible positions at the most important junctures in a match.
Robin, the boy from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, joined the Chandigarh Football Academy and then the Tata Football Academy to sharpen his skills. A forward with tremendous dash and ability to shoot as also head because of his height, Robin was more at home playing as a striker rather than a winger. He has the ability to stretch the defence on the flanks with his speed but is more dangerous when he hovers around the opponents’ box waiting for a cross or a through pass.
His prowess finally saw clubs queuing up to sign him. Robin trained in the UAE and in England as well before East Bengal signed him. Ironically, he scored two goals for TFA against East Bengal in the IFA Shield and that was the clincher.
Robin signed for the red and gold in 2010 and was a key striker scoring goals for them regularly till the 2012 season.
Bengaluru FC came into being in 2013-14 and Robin joined them along with Chettri. Quite tragically, Robin scored an own goal against his former club East Bengal in the I-League at Kalyani as his team lost 0-2. But he made up for that by scoring the winner against Salgaocar in Bengaluru in their 2-1 victory. Robin netted a brace in their Federation Cup debut as they won 5-3 against Sporting Clube de Goa.
Robin stayed on with BFC for the 2014-15 season after helping them to win the I-League title and now the Federation Cup as well. “This season, I hope to score more goals for Bengaluru FC. That’s the target I have set for myself. My game has improved a lot playing under coach Ashley Westwood and he has been a real motivator for me. I intend to play a crucial role this year,” says the lanky striker.
“Defending the I-League title is very important and of course the main aim. People believed that it was a one off win and just beginner’s luck. We have won the Fed Cup now. We have changed that perception and want to retain the league title as well,” said Robin.
Robin has also represented India in the under-16 as a TFA player against VFL Wolfsburg and FC Augsburg youth teams. In the under-23 level, he played against Myanmar in the 2012 Olympic qualifiers and his senior team debut was in 2012 against Maldives in the Nehru Cup in Delhi.
Robin has emerged to be a very important player for his club and country. The Fed Cup success is bound to propel him to greater heights and it will be worth watching him as he soars higher and shines brighter.