Chak de, Punjabi: Baljit Sahni (L) and Sandeep Jhingan! Punjab is renowned as a hockey playing enclave but the state has also produced its fair share of top notch footballers. Legendary defender Jarnail Singh Dhillon, Gurdev Singh Gill, Inder Singh, Gurcharan Singh Parmar, Harjinder Singh, Parminder Singh, Sukhwinder Singh etc, are some of Punjab’s stars who have donned the national colours with distinction.After the demise of JCT Mills, Punjab no longer has a representative club in top flight domestic competitions. But footballers from the Punjab have continued to shine for clubs outside the state. The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) has offered a new opportunity for the state’s footballers to make their presence felt and some of the dozen odd Punjabis playing their trade for the various franchises have already left an indelible mark on the tournament.Balwant Singh etched his name into the history books as the first Indian to score a goal in the ISL, when he opened the scoring for Chennaiyin FC against FC Goa in a 2-1 victory. Baljit Sahni repeated the feat for Atlético de Kolkata in a 1-1 draw at home against a spirited Kerala Blasters FC. Both players have also impressed with their tireless running, putting in the sort of effort which is appreciated by teammates and coaches alike.And while goals hog the limelight in football, Punjabi players have been excelling all across the pitch. Balwant’s teammate, Harmanjot Khabra, has become a vital member of Marco Materazzi’s squad in the midfield. Meanwhile, Rakesh Masih is a useful squad player for Atlético de Kolkata, providing a handy option for head coach Antonio López Habas off the bench. But it is in defence where Punjabi players have stood out most. Central defender Anwar Ali, who has 31 caps for the Indian national team, is one of the regulars on the team-sheet for Delhi Dynamos FC. He forms a solid defensive pairing alongside Belgian Wim Raymaekers that conceded only twice in the first four games. Hard-tackling centre back Gurwinder Singh has also been a bright spot for Kerala Blasters, earning praise from player-manager David James, who of course got to observe him closely from his vantage position as the team’s goalkeeper.Gurwinder’s teammate Sandesh Jhingan has arguably been one of the finds of the tournament. Highly rated by Baichung Bhutia, the Chandigarh native, a centre back by trade, has been thrust into an unfamiliar left-back position and has taken to his new role like a fish to water. His tremendous energy has allowed him to also run all across the left flank, bolstering Kerala’s attack when the Blasters go forward, and tracking back with diligence when required.Among several creditable performances from Punjabi players, Jhingan has been the highlight for a state with a proud and rich footballing tradition!
