'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
An iconic figure of Mizoram football, Benjamin Laldinpuia Khiangte, has lost his battle against pneumonia today. Fondly known as Didina, the legend breathed his last at the age of 60.
The son of an Indian Foreign Service officer K.C.Lalvunga, Didina had the opportunity to play for Australian Capital Territory at age level and Nepal first division teams during his younger days. Coming back to India in the year 1976, he plied his trade for then Aizawl XI and graced the field at his home soil.
It was in 1984 that he, along with a few friends, founded Aizawl FC.
"Mr. Didina was the convener among a group of friends who founded Aizawl FC so we can safely call him 'The founder of Aizawl FC'. He was of the view that footballers should always wear the best shirt, so he even ordered Umbro jersey from foreign soil for Aizawl FC in the 1980's," remarked Mr. Lalnghinglova Hmar (Tetea), an executive member of All India Football Federation and honorary secretary of Mizoram Football Association.
A former executive member of Mizoram Football Association (MFA), Didina was the first captain of Aizawl FC and won many accolades as a player. After his retirement, he was then hired as a manager/coach at The People's Club.
He was long associated with MFA and had taken charge of the state team from sub-junior level to Santosh Trophy. It is also worth mentioning that he won the Goan First Division title with Faria Strikers in his first year with the club in the year 2009.
"Mr. Didina made many positive impacts for the development of football in Mizoram. His contribution is immense and it is a great loss for the fans," said Mr. Hmingsanga, an executive member of MFA.
