The day after scoring a record four goals against Maldives, Indian midfielder Anju Tamang admitted that she took inspiration from Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League.
The Indian team maintained its winning streak in the ongoing SAFF Women’s Championship 2022, securing an easy entry to the semi-finals by securing a 9-0 win against Maldives in their second match of the SAFF Women’s Championship Nepal 2022.
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Anju Tamang scored four goals while Dangmei Grace scored two goals. Priyanka Devi, Soumya Guguloth and Kashmina added one each to make it 9-0 in India’s favour.
“Before any game I usually watch football videos of the players I like. I need to admit that before going into the game against Maldives, I was watching Robert Lewandowski’s hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League. It inspired me a lot. The moment I scored my first goal, I wanted to go on, and score more,” she said.
However, she was quick to dedicate her feat to the team. “It’s not my record. It belongs to the team, to the team, and by the team,” she said to loud cheers from her teammates.
“Scoring four goals in an international match for the first time is definitely an amazing feeling. I am happy because it paved the way for my country’s victory. But like I said, it’s a team game, and it’s for all of us,” Anju said.
“We were trying to play good football and score goals. Against Maldives we were successful in achieving our target. Communication was key on the pitch. We played as a team,” said the 26-year-old midfielder.
“Everyone had a contribution – from the bench to the coach on the pitch, and all the support staff.”
Growing up in Sikkim, Anju played football with local boys, and met her first professional coach at the age of 17. At the age of 19, she moved to an academy and played in the inaugural Indian Women’s League for the Rising Student Club.
“I started playing at the age of 12. I was into athletics, and went to play with the boys. They all encouraged me to play football and that’s how it all started. My brother-in-law gave me shoes , and I’ve never looked back,” she smiled.
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His dream finally came true in 2017 when he was selected to play for the Indian national team. It was his goal that helped the team win the first match against Iran in the Hero Gold Cup.
She has been versatile as she initially played as a forward, and later went on to play as a wing-back, and is now playing as a midfielder. She was also an integral member of the victorious SAFF Championship squad, and the SAG Games gold medal winning team. Apart from this, she also scored against Nepal in the final of the final edition of SAFF Women’s Championship in 2019 against Nepal.
“I have learned a lot from being in the senior team. Before joining the senior team, I had no idea about the footballer’s diet. Strength sessions have helped in my development as a player – physically and mentally,” she said.
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