In our second live session with the Men of Steel, Jitendra Singh and Boris Singh came together with the shortlisted fans to answer some interesting questions about the personal experiences in their footballing career, their preferences and some insightful advice for the aspiring footballers of India.

Here are the excerpts from the live interview

Your favourite match in your football career till date

Jitu: For me, it is the game against the U-20 squad of Argentina which we had won.

Boris: It should have been my first match in the U-17 World Cup but I could not complete the game as I was shown the red card, so this match is not my favourite even though I wish it was. So, I would say my second game in the World Cup was my favorite game as every player aspires to play in the World Cup and I was lucky enough to fulfill that dream of mine with the U-17 Indian national team.

What would you choose to have between Pizza and Biryani or any other favorite food?

Boris: Biryani anyday. I know even Jitu prefers the same, but we do not get many opportunities to eat Biryani; maybe after a good game, we reward ourselves with such cuisines.

Jitendra: I have tons of favorites when it comes to junk food, but I personally like having healthy food as it makes me feel better and lighter on the field. So, I mostly try to avoid consuming heavy and greasy foods and stick to healthy recipes as much as possible. However, maybe once a month everyone should have their favorite junk food and then go back to a strict healthy diet. Moderation is always good.

What are your tips for the aspiring footballers who are helpless due to the pandemic?

Jitu: I also have a few brothers who are in the same situation. They are young players who are looking to get into the sport as a career but have not got the opportunity to train or attend trials in the past year. Except ISL and I-league, not a lot has happened for the young footballers of this country due to the pandemic. But, I would like to tell these aspiring players not to get discouraged and to keep training as much as possible. The chances of getting shortlisted for the U-18 category might have passed, but there’s still a lot of time and opportunities in the future. It is time to train as much as possible. There are multiple local leagues and teams that one can be a part of by constantly attending trials; every youngster should be well prepared for this opportunity. So, instead of looking back, we should look forward and prepare ourselves for the long run.

Who is the toughest player you have faced in your career?

Jitu: I have competed against a few players who are extremely talented like Brandon Fernandes (FC Goa) whose control over the ball, his creativity on the field and his playmaking skills when he receives the ball, really fascinates me.

How to build up on the mistakes from the previous game into the next game?

Boris: The mistakes we make on the pitch are recorded and we watch it again to analyse them. Then, the coach directs us on how to improve upon them. The game, once done, is to be left in the past and we should move forward positively with the aim of not committing silly errors. That is our mindset that we enter the pitch with after a defeat. We also get moral support from our teammates which brings in positivity.

Jitu: Just like Boris said, mistakes happen in games, but what we have to do going forward is to not panic in tight situations in the upcoming games. Realization of those mistakes and figuring out the reason for the error is the key to improving. We cannot reverse time and correct the mistakes we made, but there is always a new day to begin with a fresh mind and forget about the errors. We tend to overthink when we make certain mistakes on the pitch, but we need to stay positive and keep working towards getting better everyday.

Who would you thank for your success in your footballing career?

Boris: I would always thank my father for supporting me. From the time I was in school, he always used to support and keep checking up on me. He used to drop and pick me up from school and training. He never let me feel that there was something missing which would affect my training and my performance as he has always had and will back me up in every situation. 

Jitu: I would like to thank my mother and siblings as they have always been there with me during my ups and downs. They have always motivated me when I needed it the most. Family is always by your side no matter what happens and we should always keep them close. We should never forget the sacrifices and support they have provided us with. Even if it felt that we could not afford certain things for our training, our families never let us feel that there was something missing from our lives and we should always respect their contributions. 

Stay tuned with us as we touch upon some more entertaining segments from our LIVE session with Jitendra Singh and Boris Singh.

Read Zoom Live Part 3: Jitendra & Boris discuss Indian and International football