India was playing against Nepal in the SAFF Championship on Sunday when there emerged in the country’s footballing firmament a teenaged Mizo sensation, who scored two brilliant goals, the quality of which has suddenly made the Indian fan very optimistic about the state of the sport in the country.
India was leading 2-1 at around the 80th minute when the 18-year-old Lallianzuala Chhangte fetched the ball on the right flank, dribbled, cut in with a few touches with his preferred left foot and from the edge of the box curled the ball into the far corner of the net. It was a sumptuous world-class finish. India were now leading 3-1.
Chhangte struck again. It was at the 90th minute. Rowllin Borges’ long-ball over the top of the Nepal defense found Chhangte who was at the right place at the right time to finish with a controlled header that went over the goalkeeper’s head and into the back of the net. India won 4-1, thus ensuring qualification into the semi-finals.
Lallianzuala Chhangte has suddenly become the face of Indian football, with promises of emulating past greats like Bhutia. The 18-year-old from Mizoram has burst onto the scene, having scored two goals in his two appearances for the Indian National Team.
Here are 10 facts about the Indian wonder kid:
1. Place and date of birth
Lallianzuala Chhangte hails from Mizoram. He was born on the 6th of August, 1997, and has turned 18 not too many months ago.
2. Breaks Baichung Bhutia’s record
The veteran Baichung Bhutia had scored against Uzbekistan in the 1995 Nehru Cup. He was 19 years old then and held the record of being the second youngest Indian to score in an international match. Chhangte broke Baichung’s record on the 27th of December, 2015 when he scored against Nepal.
Being just 18 years of age he now becomes the second youngest Indian to have scored in an international match. The record is held by Jerry Sirzanga, who was 16 years old when he scored for India in a friendly against Kuwait in 2004.
3. Second Youngest Indian to play for the senior team
Lallianzuala Chhangte became the second youngest Indian to play for the national senior team. On the 25th of December he came on as a substitute for Robin Singh during India’s match against Sri Lanka in the SAFF Cup. India went on the win the match 2-0.
4. The Liverpool connection
Chhangte happens to be a product of Liverpool’s youth academy in India. He started his career with DSK Shivajians Liverpool International Football Academy. The academy is based in Pune.
5. Handpicked by the Liverpool youth coaches
Chhangte’s talent was spotted by the youth coaches of the English Premier League club in the academy. He was chosen by them to play for the U-18 team of DSK Shivajians’ debut season in the 2014-15 U-19 I-League season, thus setting him on the path to stardom.
6. Top scorer of the debut season
Chhangte became the top scorer of the U-19 I-League in the 2014-15 season. He had scored 16 goals in all for DSK Shivajians. His goals helped DSK Shivajians earn their place in the final round where they eventually finished seventh.
7. Representing All India Football Federation (AIFF)
In 2015, Lallianzuala represented AIFF in the FAM-FRENZ Asia U-18 Champions trophy. They went to the semi-finals but lost to Japan’s Kashima Antlers.
8. Highest goalscorer yet again
Lallianzuala scored 9 goals for DSK in the 2015–16 U-18 I-League, becoming the highest goalscorer in the League. DSK made it to the final round from the Maharashtra zone.
9. India U-19 cap
The 18-year old Lalianzuala Chhangte got his call to represent the U-19 Indian national team in the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualification, appearing in three matches, but failing to inspire India’s campaign.
10. Constantine’s faith pays off
Stephen Constantine, the Indian football team head coach, trusted Chhangte and gave him an opportunity to prove his talent by handing him a senior team debut. His decision to give the 18-year-old a chance in the first team had come under some criticism. But with the result against Nepal and with Chhangte’s brilliant performance, Contantine’s faith in the youth of India has paid off well enough.
It had always been a part of his policy to nurture the talent of young footballers in India. He had also tweeted about his decision to give Chhangte his first team debut:
Adventures await Lallianzuala Chhangte now that he has made his mark in Indian football. The hopes are high. Chhangte is to play for DSK Shivajians in the senior I-League season which is to kick off from January 2016.
