All Whites midfielder Sarpreet Singh has described the latest memorable moment in his rapid ascent to the highest level of world football as ‘a dream come true’. 

The 21-year-old became just the second Kiwi to win the Bundesliga in recent days and is still coming to terms with the enormity of that achievement.

“It’s a huge moment for me,” he says.

“Growing up in New Zealand, I always looked up to Europe and wanted to play at the highest level here. I'm very blessed to be in this position and be given this opportunity where I'm in an environment with the top team and am always learning, always growing. 

“It’s an amazing feeling just being a part of the team and winning the title. I hope this is the first of many but I know at the same time there is a lot more hard work to do in order to reach that.” 

Singh has featured regularly in Bayern Munich’s match day squad towards the back end of the season and made two appearances, coming off the bench for a late cameo against Werder Bremen in December before earning his first start against Freiburg last month.

Prior to being promoted to the first-team squad, he starred for the club’s second team in the third tier of German football. 

He is pleased with his rate of progress but believes there is more to come. 

“I’ve only been in Europe for one year now, there’s still plenty of time for me,” he says.

“Players here have been here for many years and they've experienced many wins and successes so I'm in the perfect environment where I can learn off them. I want to continue to learn and to grow and to improve myself.

“I look at the boys that are playing week-in, week-out and how professional they are – that’s why they play. For me, it's perfect to see what they do before training, after training and the extras that go in to it and the amount of hard work they put in.”

Singh is the first New Zealander to win the German top-flight since All Whites legend Wynton Rufer scored 17 goals to lead Werder Bremen’s charge to the title in the 1992/93 season. 

Born and raised in Auckland, Singh came through the ranks at Onehunga Sports before starring for the Wellington Phoenix and says family support has been crucial in his rise. 

“My family are extremely happy for me but at the same time they want me to push to get more and more. I’m very grateful I have a family that drives success and they all work hard and want to improve and be better – that’s what I learnt growing up,” he says. 

“I believe if you put in the work you’ll get the rewards.” 

He will look to add another medal to his collection in the German Cup final this weekend, in which Bayern will take on Bayer Leverkusen as they bid to claim a league-and-cup double.

Article added: Wednesday 01 July 2020