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What's the story?
Indian Arrows defender Jitendra Singh has found a place in FIFA’s 'The Week in Numbers' segment. The list, which is published by football's governing body on their official website, mentions the 16-year-old as the youngest goal-scorer in an I-League match.
In case you didn't know...
Jitendra Singh was a part of the Indian squad which took part in the FIFA U17 World Cup last year on home soil. He featured in two out of the three matches India played in the group stages.
The heart of the matter
In a weekly segment, FIFA mentions notable incidents related to the game on a global basis. Apart from Jitendra, several prominent names also feature on the list for this week. Egyptian forward Mohammad Salah was declared as the 'African Player of the Year' earlier in the week.
Previously, Baoringdao Bodo was the youngest scorer in the I-League at the age of 17 years when he found the back of the net against Shillong Lajong FC during last year.
What's next?
The Indian Arrows are performing well in India’s top-tier league competition and has already made their mark as a force to be reckoned with in the future. The team was formed with the players of the Under-17 Indian team which featured in the World Cup last year.
Their next match is against Shillong Lajong FC on Monday. Players like Jitendra Singh, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam and Aniket Jadhav are getting exposure to competitive football at a young age. The experience will enable them to groom their skills and display marked progress in the coming years.
Author's take
Portuguese coach Luis Norton de Matos also deserves some praise for helping Jitendra take rapid strides in Indian football. Without a shred of doubt, the immensely talented teenager is among the country's most promising prospects.
