The greatest athlete of all time and legendary soccer player Lionel Messi famously remarked, "I don't need the best hairdo or the best body." Any soccer fan would be able to connect to this, in fact, their mantra would be "Just give me a ball at my feet and I'll show you what I can accomplish."

The current Hero Indian Super League not only exemplifies the excitement but also demonstrates how India has some incredibly gifted athletes. Why discuss the others when we have our very own Hyderabad FC, which has carved out its own strengths in the sport. The team is now placed second in the Hero ISL standings for the current season.

One of the best and toughest teams that has consistently improved in their play is Hyderabad FC. Keisham Reagan Singh, a 31-year-old defender born in Manipur, was acquired by Hyderabad FC on loan from Chennaiyin FC prior to the current season. Reagan, a strong defender who was born in Manipur, gives it his all each and every time he steps onto the pitch. He began his professional career in Shillong with Royal Wahingdoh and then played for NorthEast United FC and Chennaiyin FC. Throughout the course of his career, he has made over 100 ISL games and around 50 I-League appearances.

“I started my career with RWFC in the second division of the I-League and after working hard for two years, we managed to qualify for the I-League. I joined the Hero ISL later, where the standard was higher, and it helped me learn from the best coaches in the country and helped me improve every single day," Reagan said in an exclusive interview with The Pioneer.

In the 2022–23 Hero ISL season, Hyderabad FC have collected 39 points, which is the most in the club's history, after winning 12 of the 19 games that have been played so far. Every athlete knows how crucial winning is, and Reagan Singh, a defender on loan from Chennaiyin FC, is no different.

“For me, playing well is as important as winning, but in football, three points are all that matter, and that is what we focus on for every game,” he said.

Hyderabad FC, who will be looking to finish the season in a strong fashion, will definitely not let the winners' crown go off easily. The defender praised the team's mentality as well as Spanish head coach Manolo Marquez's enthusiasm for his techniques and coaching.

“I think the biggest strength of this team on the field is that we are very compact, which makes it hard for teams to break us. We play as a team and are a family off the field, which is a strong point for this club,” he said while speaking about Hyderabad FC’s strengths.

“Everyone knows he (Marquez) is a really good coach. He gives confidence to every player in the squad, especially the youngsters as he helps them work and improve on the skills and techniques of every player,” the defender also spoke highly about his head coach.

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Hyderabad FC2022-2023 Reagan Singh