Gurpreet debuts for Stabaek

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian footballer to play a competitive match for a top division European club, after he made the cut in Stabaek’s starting XI for the Norwegian Cup tie against Runar on Wednesday. And it was a memorable debut for the young Indian custodian, keeping a clean sheet in his team’s comprehensive 6-0 win over the lowly Division Three side.

However, Gurpreet wasn’t tested much on his debut, with his side dictating terms from the first whistle. By half time, Stabaek were up 5-0 and then added the sixth mid-way through the second half in their first round Cup tie.

Stabaek coach Bob Bradley, who had also managed USA in the 2010 World Cup, chose to try his bench strength for this early round Cup match. Gurpreet, who joined the former Norwegian champions on a three-year contract last year, has been playing second fiddle to Ivory Coast international Sayouba Mande.

Gurpreet had featured in seven pre-season friendly matches for his club. But he wasn’t seen ready to be a part of the first XI for the Norwegian Premier League. Stabaek’s goalkeeping coach Espen Granli had said Gurpreet needed to work on his movements before he could get a look in. Wednesday’s Cup match was seen as an ideal opportunity to measure the 24-year-old Chandigarh native’s progress.

While Mohammad Salim, Baichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri have plied trade in Europe, none could manage appearance in the first division in Europe. While Bhutia played competitive matches for Bury FC in the second division, Salim played just friendly matches for Celtic and Chhetri could never make the cut for Sporting Lisbon ‘B’ during his brief stay in Portugal.