Gouramangi Singh: height matters.Gouramangi Singh holds the distinction of being the tallest player in Chennaiyin FC. His 88 caps, six titles and countless memorable performances for the ‘Blue Tigers’ have undoubtedly added a few inches to his already intimidating 6' 1” frame, making him -- both literally and metaphorically -- a true giant of Indian football.However, in a candid telephonic interview with indiansuperleague.com, the Manipuri centre back’s down-to-earth attitude and modesty shone more than his monumental achievements.“I actually started playing football a little late compared to many of my other colleagues, partly because none of my family members were involved with sport in any capacity,” he recalls nostalgically. “After school, I used to run along with my friends to the nearby field and play football with them. That’s how I developed interest in the beautiful game.”Such was his passion that Gouramangi used to bunk classes and run away to the library to read the newspapers for the latest football news, especially about star players Baichung Bhutia and I M Vijayan. “It is exactly this passion that has turned a small state like Manipur into a footballing powerhouse in terms of players produced,” he avers. Hailing from a middle-class family where academics was considered top priority, the 28-year-old international defender had to take a critical decision – whether to study or pursue football seriously. He chose the latter and gave a trial at the Tata Football Academy. When he got selected there was no looking back.Gouramangi concedes that height is an important asset for a centre back even though players like Deepak Mandal have excelled in the position despite their lack of inches. “Physicality is the key to any position, but yes, height definitely plays an important part. I can only thank God and my parents for giving me the gift of height. It has been an important part of my game but there are plenty of other aspects to defending than just height,” he explains.The 2010 All India Football Federation player of the year, who has represented some of the biggest clubs in Goa, Mumbai and Kolkata with distinction, will play a crucial role in Chennaiyin FC’s ISL journey. So, does he have any special plans for defending against the likes of Alessandro Del Piero and Nicolas Anelka? “We’ll win as Chennaiyin FC and we’ll lose as Chennaiyin FC. It will be the whole defence against the other team, not just me against a particular striker. I just want to give my best and enjoy this adventure called ISL, and hopefully, we’ll keep winning.”His expectations from the ISL are practical and he feels that the Indian footballers, especially the younger lot, should enjoy the experience and learn as much as possible. “Now, we don’t need to go to Europe to get a feel of the football atmosphere there. The European atmosphere is coming to India, right next to our doorstep. The youngsters need to make optimum use of it but enjoy as much as possible,” Gouramangi, who had gone for a trial to Melbourne Heart in 2010, says.With his love for masala dosa, Gouramangi will fit right into the southern set-up. “Chennaiyin FC is getting ready. I hope our opponents are not taking us lightly. They might just be in for a big surprise,” he concludes.