Know Your Under-17 World Cup Stars: Defender Boris Singh

India U-17 football team’s star defender Boris Singh started playing football with a tennis ball in Manipur.

File photo of Boris Singh.

(Photo: AIFF)

India U-17 football team’s star defender Boris Singh first started playing football with a tennis ball as a young boy in Manipur.

I used to play football with a tennis ball when I was in school. It is what we had at that time and we had to make the most out of it.

Boris Singh to ANI

Boris is used to challenges right from a young age as he used to play football with players who were twice his age.

I used to play football with kids twice my age and I used to get battered almost every game.

Boris Singh to ANI

Boris will be missing out on India’s first FIFA U-17 World Cup match against USA since he received a red card during India’s last group stage match against Iran in the AFC U-16 championships in 2016. He was handed a one-match ban.

Idols & Favourite Teams

(Photo Courtesy: Facebook/Indian Football Team)

Boris Singh was born on 3 January 2000. Apart from football, the defender is a good badminton player as well.

When it comes to his idols, Boris is fond of Indian winger Udanta Singh and Portugal’s star forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

His favourite teams are NorthEast United FC (ISL) and Real Madrid (La Liga).

When Football Became the Way to Go

Once when Boris’ father was passing through a tiny field in Imphal, he stopped to have a look at his son play football. Boris pulled off a remarkable pass from his team’s half to the side’s striker.

The defender’s father was very impressed and asked his son to focus on football. Boris had more interest in athletics during that time.

My father recognised my passion for football and after a while he started dropping me off to the football ground and picking me up after practice. Soon after I won my first trophy in football at a district level and thereafter it was as if my life had been made for football.

Boris Singh to ANI

Learnt His Trade in YOSC

Boris Singh learnt his trade at the Youth Organisation Sports Club (YOSC) in Imphal, according to Scroll.

Since he could run very fast, the coach at the YOSC Biren Singh first played Boris as a midfielder, before he was sent to man the defense.

Troubled Finances

At first, Boris’ family used to earn by running a grocery store. It was run by Boris’ mother.

My father used to help my mother run a grocery shop, but after the grocery shop got shut, he started working on daily wages.

Boris Singh to ANI