Jeakson Singh’s family watch from the stands as he scores for India vs Colombia

Jeakson Singh joined the CFHA along with Amarjit in 2011. (Source: PTI)

Watching from the stands, it was a big moment for Jeakson Singh’s family as he scored India’s first ever goal in a FIFA World Cup. With Indian skipper Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Jeakson’s cousin, sharing the turf, father Deben Singh’s mind wandered back seven years when Jeakson shifted base from Thoubal in Manipur to the Chandigarh Football and Hockey Academy. The long wait has been worth it for the family.

“When he started at the village ground in 2007, I wanted him to make his name in football. I would coach him early in the morning as there would be a lot of other footballers during the day. And when his cousin and Amarjit’s elder brother Umakanta Singh told us about the academy in Chandigarh, we gave our consent. His elder brother Johny Chand Singh also plays professional football in Kolkata and I have to work alone at my farm. But if we did not make those sacrifices, we would not see Jeakson scoring India’s first goal in a World Cup,” says Deben, who owns a small farm in Thoubal.

Johny had joined the St Stephen’s football Academy in Chandigarh, where current India goalie Gurpreet Singh Sandhu also trained, and three years later, Jeakson joined the CFHA along with Amarjit in 2011. The duo would feature in Chandigarh’s march to the Subroto Cup final in 2012.

“Jeakson started playing football before coming to Chandigarh, Jeakson would always ask me about football in Chandigarh. His aim always has been to play for the country first and clubs come later. And today’s goal is the biggest gift for our family,” shared Johny. While Amarjit would continue playing for CFHA, Jeakson would join Minerva Punjab FC on the insistence of owner Ranjit Bajaj, who made sure that the midfielder played for the club in the U-16 I- League in 2015-16 and 2016-2017 seasons.

Having missed out on a spot in the preparatory team for the U-17 World Cup in 2015, Jeakson played a vital role in the team’s titles in 2015 and 2016, scoring a long-ranger in the U-16 I-League final against Ozone FC in October last year. Jeakson would also play for the Minerva FC senior team in the Durand Cup and DSK Cup, along with Indian senior team member Germanpreet Singh. Monday’s goal also came with 120 junior players from Minerva Punjab FC watching.