Bengaluru: Harmanjot Khabra believes that proving the doubters wrong has led to him developing into a firm fans’ favourite and an integral part of the starting lineup at JSW Bengaluru.
The charismatic defender spent the first half of 2017 on loan at the Karnataka state club before joining on a permanent deal in July, in time to help last year’s AFC Cup runners-up overcome DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in the Inter-Zone Semi-final.
Bengaluru are now only a game away from reaching a second successive AFC Cup showpiece event but start Wednesday’s second leg of the Inter-Zone Final a goal down to Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol after suffering a 1-0 reversal in Dushanbe three weeks ago.
“I think the fans had doubts about me when I joined, that was my opinion, and I took it as a challenge because that is what happens when someone new arrives,” said Khabra.
“But now they are all there to chant for me and things have been good in Bengaluru, on and off the field.”
Formed in 2013, Bengaluru’s rise has been both speedy and impressive, with two I-League titles and an AFC Cup runners-up finish evidence of an outfit with lofty ambitions.
With The Blues to participate in the Indian Super League for the first time this year, a number of players who played a huge role in establishing the club moved on, while a host of new faces from home and abroad arrived.
But the camaraderie amongst the squad remains unchanged and the determination to make up for last year’s final defeat to Iraq’s Air Force Club is something at the forefront of everyone’s mind.
“It’s now not about expectations, it’s about what we have to do,” added Khabra. “We are one down but the history of another final would be good and hopefully this time we can end up being champions.
“There is an atmosphere in the dressing room where everybody is there to help each other and I’ve never seen that at the other clubs I’ve been at.
“When I first came here all the other players made me feel comfortable and that is the same now with the new players, who [like me] have the challenge of performing well for BFC.”
Born in Punjab, Khabra’s career has taken him from Sporting Goa to East Bengal and Chennaiyin before he wound up at Bengaluru at the beginning of 2017.
A hugely popular figure around the club, Khabra bears the unusual distinction of being a defender who wears the number 10 jersey, but is there a reason he dons the top so often associated with a team’s playmaker?
“So many people have this question, but I didn’t ask for this number,” admitted Khabra. “It’s not about the number 10, it’s about the number 1 because I can play in all positions and I’m ready to play anywhere.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m playing as a striker or a defender, I’m ready to perform for the team as a team player. I like the challenge.”
Photos: Lagardère Sports
Source: the-afc.com