Gouramangi Singh is a key figure in FC Pune City's defence in Season 2 of the Indian Super League (ISL) as the franchise looks to put its best foot forward in the final lap of league phase in race to the semis.
The Pune defender has had a telling impact in his side's challenge in ISL-2 as Pune stand fifth on the points table.
Talking to IBNLive.com, Gouramangi expressed no reservations whatsoever in saying that the ISL has been a boon for Indian football and that boon is turning into a blessing with the league's unprecedented success. Having said that, he reminds not to depend overly on the cash-rich league for Indian football's growth since it's still new and to give ISL at least five years before passing judgements.
But Gouramangi said there are more positive to look in the ISL than the negatives, a d ditto for Pune's campaign this year.
"There are more of positives than negatives... [especially] if you look at the table. We have been very competitive this season. Still anyone can qualify for the playoffs. The difference in the points is very, very less and still there are three to four games for every team to play. Any team can beat any team, so that also tells about the competitiveness of the league and also the teams. So this is one of the big positives to look at," he said.
The Pune player also stressed upon the impact the league has had on Indian football scene.
"The impact of the league has been huge," he said. "Training wise also it has improved. People who have not seen football [in stadiums] but follow it before are coming to the stadiums and showing more interest, thanks to ISL. So that is the biggest positive to take from this season."
Pune started the season brightly and were top of the table for a good length but suddenly few underwhelming performances have seen them slip to fifth on the league table. Fortunately for them, they are just one point behind NorthEast United FC, who are fourth.
When asked what went wrong, Gouramangi said there is no point to keep thinking about the slip with work ahead. "I don't want to talk about what went wrong - it's true that this is not the position we would like to be in and unfortunately we are not playing for a week now and can go down to sixth before we play our next match against Atletico de Kolkata, but while saying this, if you see the points difference between the teams, it is not that much.
"Between third, fourth and fifth, till seventh, the difference is very less. If we can win two games, then definitely we will qualify for the playoffs. We are fifth and we don't want to be in the situation but we have to take each game at a time and have to fight till the end. We have three games in hand we have to try to win two of those and that will give us a chance to be back in the top four again," he added.
The defender said there is no dearth of confidence in the Pune camp.
"Of course, we are confident of making it to the top four. If you are not positive, then that can hit you back. We have to believe in ourselves and hope to get three points whenever we take the field. In every game you have to be positive and give your best."
Gouramangi has played in 8 games out of the 11 Pune have played so far and is very happy that he is an integral part of the team.
"I am happy with the chances I am getting on the pitch. There are other players as well and the coach has to rotate - so playing in 8 games and that too 90 minutes in each game, I am pretty satisfied with it," he told IBNLive on phone.
Gouramangi is realistic about the impact the glamorous tournament has had on the game of football in the country so far, but he insists that more time should be given before judging its impact and one should not compare it with the I-league.
"You cannot compare ISL with I-League. If there was no I-League, then there would be no ISL. [It's] As simple as that. I have been playing for more than a decade and I am a big fan of Indian football, I-League and ISL. If there was no I-league, then there would have been no ISL.
"The thing is that you just cannot depend on the ISL to change the face of Indian football in the next 15 years or so, but we should look at the positives ISL has given. First there was I-League but then ISL came and people have started talking about football in the country. ISL is doing a lot - they want to develop football from the grass root level, but let's give the league time and see where we are after five years. Are we really progressing or not? But it's good to see that people are showing more and more interest in the game. ISL is the best thing to happen to Indian football in the last few years, so lets wait and see.
"And let's not completely depend on the ISL for the development of youth. Yes, it can be a major force to shape the future as they are talking about developing the game from grass root level and other things. ISL definitely will play a big part in that. It can impact different section of the society. People who haven't talked about the game earlier are showing interest in it. They want to come to the stadiums and watch the game. That was not the case before," he concluded.
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