Nerka discusses Jamshedpur FC, his plans for the season, Indian football, and more…
The buzz around ISL 2020-21 has picked up pace with signings aplenty and the venue being announced as Goa. Jamshedpur FC has been very active ahead of the season with the signing of Owen Coyle as Head Coach and later Jackichand Singh. But the most eye-catching acquisition of the campaign so far is the signing of ex-Marina Machan striker and Golden Boot winner, Nerijus Valskis. The addition of this Lithuanian goal machine has created a lot of headlines in the market, but more than that, it put smiles on the faces of Jamshedpur FC fans.
In his first interactions with the media, the beloved Nerijus ‘Nerka’ Valskis talks about his move from Chennaiyin FC to Jamshedpur FC, his plans for the club, and more. Here are some excerpts from his interviews:
Tell us why you decided to join Jamshedpur FC
The management showed great interest in me. And I had a word with Owen Coyle about this project, who was the most significant influence on me to switch to Jamshedpur FC. It’s a new challenge for me because they have never been in the top four. And playing again under Owen Coyle made sense for me as I have a good understanding with him.
How big of a role did Owen Coyle play in your decision to move to Jamshedpur FC?
He played a big role behind me moving to Jamshedpur FC. Owen is a good coach, and he can bring you to the top. I have always enjoyed working with him, and we understand each other very well. We worked wonders as he lifted and motivated a squad (at Chennaiyin FC) that was struggling, resulting in a turnaround that helped us reach the final.
I am looking forward to achieving more success with him. Both Sandy (Assistant Coach) and Owen work very well together. They are good coaches, they push the players to give their all with high-intensity training sessions, and that is precisely what I like.
Any individual target you have for this season?
I can’t say that my target is to score 20 or 30 goals. Instead, it is to help my team win games. So, even if I am scoring eight goals but manage to win maximum games, that’s perfect. That’s my sole target.
How do you think you can help Jamshedpur FC improve themselves as a team?
I will try and help the young players improve. I see that we have a lot of good youngsters and the management and the coach are bringing in experienced players as well so that’s a great thing. I feel this mix will help us fight for the top four for sure.
Initially, during the ISL Season 19-20, you were struggling to put the ball in the back of the net. But that changed when the coach changed mid-season. What did Owen do differently?
When Owen came, he arranged high-intensity training sessions and small games for us. It was crucial because we won 1-2 games after that. It boosted our morale and helped us to start believing again. That’s how he found his first XI, and we managed to reach the top four and all the way to the finals.
Which young players from Jamshedpur FC have caught your attention?
I remember playing against Narender, and he is an outstanding player. He is smart, has good game quality in him, but he needs to play more. He is young, but when you play against him, he does not seem like a young player. It looks as if you are up against an experienced defender. Also, Amarjit, who I remember, is another classy player too. A good midfielder, I must say.
Share your experiences of Indian Football and India in general…
Honestly, I got more than I expected from the Indian Super League. The league is very famous with some top-quality players - both Indian and foreign. As far as India as a country is concerned, it’s been a great experience so far as I got to see so many cultures and languages.
What are your thoughts on Jamshedpur as a city and its facilities?
The best part about Jamshedpur FC is that the club has its own facilities. They have everything that one needs as a professional football player - the training ground, gym, swimming pool, a stadium with amazing support always coming in full. The grass quality is no. 1 in India. Jamshedpur, as a city, is breathtaking as well. It’s clean and small with amazing people.
What do you think about Jharkhand being a football-loving state?
Jharkhand is very passionate about football. So many kids enrolled in the Grassroots programme, over 3000 kids across the state I read somewhere, also saw some posts about it on social media. The fans are so passionate as well. I remember seeing so many people who came to watch the matches, over 20,000 people every game I hear. It’s simply spectacular. This is passion!
Message to the fans…
Be patient and believe in us. We are here to make some good memories with you. And I hope to be successful along with you all.
