Jeje upbeat on new beginning
Jeje Lalpekhlua (left) and Irata Izumi during a training session in Yangon on Wednesday.
Jeje Lalpekhlua has been talked as one of the more exciting prospect in Indian football in recent times. For over a year, the striker was out sidelined by injury, a period which he calls as one of the worst in his short football career. But now, a rejuvenated Jeje looks ahead after being recalled into the India squad. Excerpts:
How does it feel to be back in the national squad?
Every player sweats it out to be here. It feels nice and makes me more confident as a player that I am back in the team after more than a year. My ankle injury kept me out of the AFC Challenge Cup in Nepal in March 2012 and since then it has been a battle, more with my own self to return. I see this as a new beginning and will work harder and wait for my chance.
How did you motivate yourself when you were recovering?
Football motivated me more than anything else. I just wanted to be back, playing again for my club. More than the physical aspect, an injury hits you hard mentally. You start thinking that you will not ever have the strength to be back.
Serious doubts kept creeping in my mind. But at the same time, it makes you tougher as you have already seen the worst of times.
This is the first time you are in the squad under Wim Koevermans. How do you rate him as a coach?
The first and foremost thing that will appeal to you is his nature. I’d say, as much he is a coach, he is simultaneously a gentleman and a very caring human being. That’s an extraordinary and a very rare combination, I must say. Technically, he has fine-tuned my game a lot. He explained to me as to how I could be sharper with my turning and off-the-ball play. I like his style a lot.
What kind of targets have you set for yourself now?
As a striker, I’d say I want to score as many goals as possible. But the AFC Challenge Cup 2014 (qualifiers) stays the immediate target — not only for me but for the entire team. We are a good unit and need to believe in ourselves.
You have played against Chinese Taipei and Myanmar. What kind of challenge we expect from them?
I made my senior India debut against Chinese Taipei in the AFC Challenge Cup in Malaysia in 2011. I remember scoring in the match which we won 2-1. Then, in the U-23 Olympic qualifiers, I scored against Myanmar in Pune which too we won 2-1. I can tell you, both teams are very competitive and will pose a huge threat. And there’s Guam too. The coach has shown us some videos and we need to stick to his plans.
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