U-17 World Cup: Felt like end of the world when rejected: Jeakson

Panaji: Had it not been for an unscheduled friendly against Minerva Punjab FC, Jeakson Thounaojam Singh would have never had the chance to score India’s first goal in the Fifa Under-17 World Cup.

When Jeakson jumped over the Colombian defence to head home Sanjeev Stalin’s inch-perfect corner in the 82nd minute, India had its moment of the tournament. It was India’s first goal in a Fifa tournament but, never mind the goal, Jeakson’s selection itself is a marvel.

When Nicolai Adam took charge of India’s preparations for the U-17 World Cup, he started scouting for players. During one such mission, he landed at the Chandigarh Football Academy where Jeakson, along with several others, appeared for trials. The German coach had a good look at him but eventually decided he wasn’t meant to be part of his plans.

“I was very disappointed when I got rejected but I still kept faith in myself and in my abilities,” Jeakson told TOI on Tuesday.

Again, during the U-15 I-League final in Goa when Minerva Punjab battled Royal Wahingdoh for top honours, it was Jeakson who scored from a stunning free-kick. The national selectors, including chief coach, were out in full force at the Duler Football Stadium but Jeakson was ignored, again.

“It almost felt like end of the world when I was rejected. I constantly told myself that this is not where my dreams end and worked extremely hard to give it my all and got selected,” recalled Jeakson.

Jeakson got a final chance when Nicolai was forced to step down and Luis Norton de Matos took over early this year. The Portuguese coach didn’t like what he saw of the assembled squad in Goa and asked for more options. Soon a friendly against youth champions Minerva was organised, and although it was Nongdamba Naorem who scored the winner against India U-17, nobody was left in any doubt that Jeakson had bossed the midfield.

His partnership with cousin and captain Amarjit Singh in midfield – with de Matos preferring a 4-2-3-1 formation – was crucial to India’s energy against Colombia. And the goal simply seemed like waiting to happen.

Until Jeakson broke the duck, Anwar Ali, Abhijit Sarkar and Rahul KP could have so easily had their name in the history books. But probably nobody deserved the goal more than the Manipuri midfielder; when you want something, the whole universe conspires to make it happen.