In an exclusive interaction with The Telegraph, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, one of Indian football’s brightest youngsters, opens up about his footballing journey, his experience in Europe, his tabla and fishing skills, his interest in fantasy sports, and much more!

You had the exact opposite arc to a certain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Before you became a goalkeeper in football, you played cricket as a wicketkeeper. Tell us about how that switch happened.
When I was a kid, my parents were not very fond of sporting activities, they would rather I focus on my studies. But I kept on playing whenever I had the time. I used to play cricket with my cousins in the courtyard and I would always be the wicketkeeper. Cricket was mostly recreational, but I would attend my football coaching every Sunday where I used to play in goal. Slowly, I made my way into the U-14 team for Manipur, and then the U-14 national team, and that is how my professional journey in football began. But apart from football, my second favourite sport is actually not cricket, but badminton. I play a lot of badminton and often with much more intensity than cricket.

Playing at the U-17 FIFA World Cup on home soil was undoubtedly a highlight for you, as it was for each member of that Indian contingent. What did playing in that tournament do for your confidence and career going forward?
The World Cup was a huge platform for everyone in the team, though I did not feel that personally I was among the best young players in the world. But we got to showcase our talent and in spite of losing all three of our matches we got to learn a lot of things from the competition. We definitely got a lot of confidence, and right after the World Cup, we started playing in the I-League, which was a very important transition from youth football to proper professional football.

The last decade or so has brought about a revolution in the style of goalkeeping at the highest level, with keepers needing to play out from the back and be comfortable in possession. We have seen the rise of the sweeper-keeper through players like Manuel Neuer and Ederson. What have you made of this development?
Modern goalkeeping has changed a lot (from the past). Nowadays, every team wants a goalkeeper who is good with their feet, because they help release the pressure off defenders. As keepers, we need to have good technique, ball control, and pick out a pass. This is happening in India, too. Football is changing in India, and I want to keep up and keep on improving. As a goalkeeper, I want to work more on how I play with my feet.

In 2017, you went on a training tour across Europe, including Scotland, where you trained with Motherwell. What was that experience like and what differences did you notice in technique and temperament?
It was a great opportunity for me to have a trial at Motherwell. It was a big learning curve. I do not need to explain how good European clubs are, they have the best facilities, training grounds, and coaching staff. But I really enjoyed my time over there, learning both on and off the pitch.

How did the Scottish weather greet you?
Initially, I had a bad time with the weather. I had gone during the winter months and it was very cold. It was difficult for me during the first week and there were times when I could not feel my hands or feet when out on the pitch. So yes, that first week was really tough, but then I gradually acclimatised to the conditions and settled in.

You have just had a remarkable season with FC Goa in the AFC Champions League. Do you feel that you are currently playing the best football you have played so far in your career?
The Champions League is certainly one of the most prestigious competitions I have been a part of so far. We had a lot of strong teams in our group, from Persepolis to Al Wahda and Al Rayyan, but we also did not have a lot of pressure. This was the first time an Indian club was playing in the group stages of the Champions League and the main objective for us was to get an idea of the level at which clubs outside India operate.

Over the last few years, fantasy football has become an important element of the football ecosystem. We have seen that a lot of players take part in it themselves, making their own teams. Are you one of those who has his own fantasy team?
It is true that fantasy football has become a huge platform, especially in India. I do play fantasy football myself and am really happy and excited to have recently joined Blitzpools. Football fans engage a lot with fantasy games these days, spending a lot of time and money on it.... Personally, I am looking forward to exploring this avenue a lot more in the time to come.

Let us step aside from football for a while and talk about what you do to zone out. We have heard that you enjoy driving and fishing. Is that correct?
Yes, definitely. I go to fish at the farm whenever I get the time or whenever I get bored. But I like driving, too. Long drives, especially. Helps me clear my head.

Finally, what role does music play in your life? And tell us about how you learnt playing the tabla?
When I was small, I spent a lot of time in a hostel at boarding school. And there was a strong spiritual component to life over there, with a lot of bhajans being sung. I used to sit right beside the tabla player and watch him play. That is how I picked it up, without any formal training. It was entirely a process of visual learning.
As for what music I like, it really depends on my mood. I do not have any specific genres I prefer. But I always listen to music before stepping out to play a match.

Fact file

⚫ Born and brought up in Manipur, Singh was a part of the AIFF Elite Academy batch whose graduates went on to represent India at the 2017 U-17 FIFA World Cup

⚫ In a short but busy career so far, Singh has already played for a handful of famous clubs in Indian football — Indian Arrows, Kerala Blasters, Atlético de Kolkata, and FC Goa

⚫ In 2019, Singh made his debut for the India U-23 side in a friendly against Qatar and went on to play a crucial role during the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers

⚫ During the 2020-21 AFC Champions League, Singh emerged as the best goalkeeper of the group stages, besides winning the man of the match award for his display against Iranian club Persepolis

Rapid fire

Your goalkeeping idol: Ederson and Petr Cech

The best advice you have received in football: Discipline matters most

Your favourite teammate in the dressing room: Ishan Pandita

The funniest Indian player you know: Ishan Pandita

Your favourite dish: Nga Atoiba Thongba, a fish curry that is a Manipuri speciality

Your favourite holiday destination: Paris