THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:When you look at it, it might seem a strange decision from Arsenal youth product Sanchez Watt to travel thousands of miles away from home to join Kerala Blasters for the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL). But for the player himself, everything makes perfect sense.
“I wanted to experience something new away from England — a whole new challenge. And the opportunity to work with a very experienced manager like Peter Taylor in India was very enticing,” said Watt, 24, who joined from League One’s Colchester United.
Watt will be wearing the number 10 jersey left vacant by fan favourite Iain Hume, who has since joined Atletico de Kolkata, and the winger is confident that he can carry the weight of expectation on his shoulders.
“Back home, I have played for clubs like Arsenal, Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday that have a huge fan following and I am confident that I can carry myself in front of the Blasters’ fans during the ISL,” he said.
Termed by his former manager Arsene Wenger as “a player from the streets” and praised by him for “his movement, sharpness, work rate and left-footed quality”, Watt believes he can bring in those qualities to help his new club.
“I am a quick attacking player who can help the team by scoring goals as well as creating them for my teammates,” says Watt, who can play on the wing as well as up front in attack. “I will be looking to give my best for the team,” he added.
Of Blasters’ pre-season preparation at Thiruvananthapuram, Watt said it has been a tough few weeks for him in the country. “The climate here is very different from what I am used to, but after the preparations here, I am now able to cope with it,” he said.
“Our only objective for this season is to improve on our performance from the first season and lift that ISL trophy for our fans,” said the Englishman, sounding optimistic of the squad’s capabilities.
Watt scored on his debut for Arsenal in the League Cup back in 2009 joining an elite club along with the likes of Freddie Ljungberg and Samir Nasri to do so under Wenger.
And he will be hoping to do the same for his latest club when Blasters take on NorthEast United FC in front of a vocal support at Kochi on October 6.