The Indian Super League was started not just to spread the charm and beauty of football throughout the country, but also to ensure that talented footballers get the opportunity to come forward and showcase their abilities on the big stage.
All the ISL franchises have developed and worked on pre-decided grassroots programmes, which have been really successful so far. While youngsters like Romeo Fernandes took the first season by storm, the flamboyant performances of quite a few other Indian and international young guns have caught the eye too. These budding stars have done their teams proud, and have frequently stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their more experienced and accomplished colleagues.
Here, we take a look at five such youngsters who have made their mark in the third edition of the ISL:
#1 Richard Gadze
This young Ghanaian was the talk of ISL 2015, where he scored four goals and set up a few more to help take his Delhi Dynamos team to the semi-finals for the first time. This season he has soared even higher, with his performance in the thrilling 3-3 draw with Mumbai City FC being the highlight - he scored one goal and set up another in a display filled with quality and inventiveness.
Last year, Gadze linked up with Robin Singh very well, and this year he seems to be doing the same with Frenchman Florent Malouda, Delhi’s marquee player. The 22-year-old is gifted with lightning pace and brilliant shooting prowess, which he has been using to great effect so far in his ISL career.
#2 Holicharan Narzary
The young Indian from Kokrajhar first made a foray into professional football when his school coach convinced him to join a SAI camp in his hometown. There has been no looking back for Narzary since then; after representing India at the Under-19 and Under-22 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, he is now a regular in the senior team.
The 22-year-old left-footed winger is an integral part of the NorthEast United FC midfield. His reading of the game is impeccable, as is his positioning sense, making him equally proficient both defensively and offensively.
Blessed with great pace and a brilliant left foot, Narzary has looked perfectly in sync with the likes of Katsumi Yusa, Nicolas Velez and Emiliano Alfaro. Admittedly, he does occasionally try to do too much with the ball, which makes him miss out on the final pass sometimes. But that's just one minor flaw; with all his other attributes, Narzary is undoubtedly a vital cog in the NorthEast United wheel.
#3 Jerry Lalrinzuala
The north-east seems to be the cradle of Indian football right now. That idea is further reinforced when you take a look at what the 18-year-old Jerry Lalrinzuala has already achieved in his short career so far.
The Mizoram-born footballer was a part of the AIFF’s Elite Academy that was sent to FC Metz (France) in 2016 for an international exposure trip, which was sponsored by Chennaiyin FC. After returning from the training stint, Lalrinzuala was immediately lapped up by the Chennai-based franchise, and their decision has proved to be a good one.
He has already racked up an assist in his debut season despite being a defender with limited appearances. He has also been awarded two Emerging Player of the Match awards - against Kerala Blasters FC and FC Goa.
In fact, Lalrinzuala's rise to the top has been so meteoric that he has featured in six games in the last one month, completing 90 minutes in four of them. Blessed with a calm head and good on-the-ball abilities, Jerry is certainly expected to go a long way in his career.
#4 Chinglensana Singh
Yet another starlet from the north-east, Sana Singh, as he is fondly called, has been making quite a splash with his performances at the back for Delhi Dynamos.
The 19-year-old, who has spent time playing for the likes of Mahindra United, Air India and Tata Football Academy, was drafted into the Delhi team after his training stint with Sheffield United in England. Needless to say, he has grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Playing alongside the experienced Ruben Gonzalez, Singh has been watertight with his play all season. These two have ensured that Delhi Dynamos’ defence has remained solid despite missing the much more experienced Anas Edathodika.
Strong in the air and good with the ball at his feet, Singh has a steady head on his shoulders too. The teenager has every single tool a defender needs to be a top player and seems destined to become a star for India if he keeps up his form.
#5 Prabir Das
It is never easy to make an impression if you are young and are asked to replace a much more experienced campaigner. However, the 22-year-old Prabir Das has done just that this season, and how.
Das was brought into the Atletico de Kolkata first team as Bengaluru FC’s Keegan Pereira wasn’t available for a large portion of the ISL due to his AFC Cup commitments. The Mohun Bagan full-back did not disappoint his coach Jose Molina, or the fans, as he put in one splendid performance after another.
Despite being put into the unfamiliar left-back position, Das has shown grit and maturity far ahead of his years. The Indian Under-23 international has been one of the mainstays of the miserly Kolkata defence, which has conceded just five goals in the league so far.
Das is a tactically astute and hard-working player, although he does need to improve his crossing abilities. But he has time on his side, and there is widespread hope that the youngster from Sodepur will go on to make it big in the near future.
