Template:Infobox football biography
Baljit Sahni (born 12 January 1987) is an Indian former professional footballer who played as a forward.
Career
JCT
Sahni had played for JCT for 5 years. In the 2009–10 season he scored the first hat trick of the season against Shillong Lajong.[1] On 11 November 2009 however Sahni was seriously injured in a bike accident along with teammate Sunil Kumar Thakur in Margao, Goa while the team were preparing for an upcoming match against Salgaocar in the I-League.[2] As a result of the accident Sahni required 25 stitches and he fractured his shin.[2] At this point in the season Sahni was in top form with six goals in the opening seven matches.[2] However, on 28 January 2010 Sahni played in his first game since the accident, coming on as a second-half substitute and he even scored a goal as JCT Mills defeated Sporting Goa 2–0.[3]
East Bengal
In 2010 Sahni signed with I-League giants East Bengal.[4]
Retirement and financial struggle
Sahni faced monetary issues while playing, so he decided to retire early at the age of 31. Sahni said, "In 2019 I left for Canada. I was not getting paid enough. I had to earn my bread and butter and I also have a family to take care of. I retired from football because after football there is a life too and that is hard but you have to accept that life and take it on the chin."[5]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | Federation Cup | Durand Cup | AFC | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| JCT | 2007–08 | I-League | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 3 |
| 2008–09 | I-League | 12 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 18 | 5 | |
| 2009–10 | I-League | 13 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 14 | 9 | |
| East Bengal | 2010–11 | I-League | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 12 | 9 |
| 2011–12 | I-League | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 2 | |
| 2012–13 | I-League | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| 2013–14 | I-League | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 2 | |
| Atletico de Kolkata (loan) | 2014 | ISL | 16 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 2 |
| East Bengal | 2014–15 | I-League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Career total | 87 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 21 | 3 | 115 | 30 | ||
Honours
- Atlético de Kolkata
References
- ↑ Sahni cracks hat-trick as JCT whip Lajong.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 JCT's Baljit Sahni & Sunil Kumar Meet With Serious Accident.
- ↑ I-League: JCT Beats Sporting As Baljit Sahni Scores On His Return.
- ↑ B. SAHNI.
- ↑ Bread & Butter(20 July 2020).
- ↑ India - B. Sahni - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway. int.soccerway.com.
- ↑ Baljit Singh Sahni - Profile and Statistics - SoccerPunter.com. www.soccerpunter.com.
- ↑ JCT Football :: News. www.jctfootball.com.
- ↑ Baljit Singh Sahni, Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. www.national-football-teams.com.