Jeakson Singh, the heart of Kerala Blasters’ midfield, looks to return the love of Manjappada with an ISL title Premium

Jeakson Singh, a 22-year-old Indian midfielder, is unfazed by opponents and evades challenges to make tough plays look easy. He credits his father for introducing him to football and joining the Chandigarh Football Academy for molding him into the player he is today. He joined Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League for the passionate fan base and has become a regular feature in the playing XI. With the arrival of Serbian manager Ivan Vukomanovic, Jeakson has become an integral part of the Indian national team. He is excited for the upcoming challenges and hopes to prove himself on a bigger stage. His goal is to bring home a title for the adoring Manjappada, the fan army of the Blasters. Jeakson is determined to reach the highest level of football and showcase his talents on a global stage.

If you watch Indian midfielder Jeakson Singh go about his way on a football pitch, you would feel he is playing to a different tune compared to the rest on the field.

His loose-limbed approach undersells the pressure he is often under. He is unfazed by opponents breathing down his neck as he evades challenges to make a tough play look all too easy. The game flows through the defensive midfielder as much as he flows with the game.

“It comes out of experience. The more you play, the more you know about your mistakes and the better you can improve your skills. I believe there are two types of players. The first ones are the naturally talented bunch and then there are guys with a little bit of talent, but with a lot of hard work. I belong to the second group,” said Jeakson.

But, like many, the defensive midfield was never Jeakson’s original calling.

“Like all kids, I wanted to play as an attacker and score goals. But when I joined the academy in Chandigarh, my coach told me that I would be better off as a midfielder. I even tried defence for a while, but soon I understood midfield is where I belong,” said Jeakson, who stars for Kerala Blasters in the Indian Super League.

The 22-year-old is well aware of the hidden-in-shadows cloak he has chosen to adorn. “A midfielder can’t be measured by goals or clean sheets. We are the backbone of the team. We connect the defence to the attack and the other way around. It is a tough job,” he added with a laugh.

Jeakson, who hails from Manipur, maybe the most accomplished footballer in his family, but he is hardly the only one. His cousin Amarjit Singh Kiyam represents Punjab FC in the ISL, while his sister Kritina Devi Thounaojam has played for India at youth levels.