ISL: Will work hard to push NorthEast United FC further next season – Gurmeet Singh

NorthEast United FC goalkeeper Gurmeet Singh has said he will work hard to push the club further next season. The Highlanders finished the Indian Super League 2023-24 season in seventh place in the standings with six wins in 22 games and a total of 26 points.

Thus, they could not finish among the top six teams and failed to qualify for the finals. Meanwhile, Gurmeet Singh made 51 saves in 17 appearances of ISL 2023-24 and had a 65% save percentage. He also kept one clean sheet throughout the tournament.

Gurmeet was also part of the Hyderabad FC squad that won the ISL Cup during the 2021-22 season.

Recalling the early days of his career, he said in an interview with NorthEast United FC, “I’m from Haryana, district Jind, Narwana. Kids in my school used to play; looking at them, I started playing. I didn’t pick goalkeeping. One of my seniors put me in goal because I was tall enough. Since then, they have always made me the goalkeeper. From there, I started gaining more interest in the sport and goalkeeping.

“Initially, I started playing in school, but then I got to know that a few kids go to academies for training. Then I got to know that academies have trails. I gave my first trial at Majestic Football Academy in Haryana. I started off there, then went on to play nationals. I was playing in the Subroto Cup when I got an offer from DSK Shivajians FC,” he added.

The goalkeeper began his professional career with NorthEast United FC in 2018 and made his debut against Kerala Blasters FC.

“After that, I joined NorthEast United FC in 2018. Signing my first professional contract with NorthEast United FC was one of the best days of my life. I spent three years at NorthEast United FC; after that, I moved to Hyderabad FC for three years, and now I am back at NorthEast United FC,” he stated.

Singh revealed he learned a lot from experienced players at the Nizams.

“I learned a lot from the quality players at Hyderabad FC. I felt I was very lucky because there are players who play for their entire lives and don’t win a trophy. But we were fortunate enough to win the title and etch our name in history,” he stated.