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A new year means a new beginning. With ISL set to resume in 2018, we look at some young talents, who can change their team's fortunes. With more than half of the season left, it will be interesting to see which team can hold up and have a shot at the title.
With young players having the chance to become a hero for their team, this year might be full of surprises.
5) Jerry Lalrinzuala
Chennaiyin FC ended 2017 on top of the table and they would like to continue their form going into 2018. Their attack and defense have been solid this season. Lalrinzuala is one of the most experienced youngsters in the ISL this season.
He has played every single minute for Chennaiyin this season.The 19-year-old left back has made 12 tackles and 9 interceptions, clearances, and blocks each. He also has 3 shots on target and an assist to his name as well, the assist coming in the 3-2 victory over ATK.
Lalrinzuala was a part of the AIFF Elite Academy and Bethlehem Vengthlang of the Mizoram Premier League before signing with Chennaiyin of the Indian Super League. He was signed as one of five young footballers to be sponsored on their training stint with FC Metz in France.
After impressing Chennaiyin's first-team staff in pre-season, he was included in the squad for the season. He made his professional debut for the team on 2 October 2016 in their opening match against Atlético de Kolkata. He came on as a 73rd-minute substitute as Chennaiyin drew the match 2–2.The accolades continued to come in for Lalrinzuala as he was awarded the ISL Emerging Player of the Season award after the ISL final on 18 December.
Lalrinzuala has established himself as one of the finest young prospects in the league after a breakthrough season last time out. After the conclusion of the last campaign, he was loaned to DSK Shivajians and had an incredible journey as he bagged the "Best Emerging Player of I-League award".
Cheennayin will be happy if Jerry remains fit and continues to contribute.
4) Ashique Kuruniyan
Ashique (June 1997) opened his account when FC Pune City thrashed Northeast United 5-0. The youngster from Malappuram gave his side the lead in the eighth minute of the match.
The 20-year-old made his professional debut for the club on 10 December 2017 in their match against Jamshedpur. He came on as an 83rd-minute substitute for Emiliano Alfaro as Pune City won 1–0. Despite scoring just 1 goal, he makes the list due to some dangerous balls he put in and getting in some dangerous positions.
Born in Malappuram, Kerala, Kuruniyan was the fifth child of a father who owned a shop and a mother who was a housewife. At his school, Ashique never played football until his physical education teacher made him play in the absence of their striker.
“Since I had won medals in the 100 meters and 200 meters track, my PT teacher thought that I would do well in the team,” recalled Ashique in an interview. Surprisingly, he performed well in that match and since then football has been his sport. In 2016, when Pune's academy was sold and converted to the FC Pune City Academy, Kuruniyan joined them. In October 2016 it was announced that Kuruniyan would join Villarreal C, the third-team of La Liga side Villarreal, on loan from Pune City.
However, after training in Spain for four months, Kuruniyan returned to India in February 2017, after suffering a hamstring injury.
He can play a vital role in FC Pune City's journey this season.
3)Vinit Rai
With Delhi struggling for form this season, there have been few positives, Vinit Rai is one of them - he has registered 409 passes in 6 games so far and has a passing accuracy of 86%. The 20-year old is currently 4th in the number of passes in the league behind Ahmed Jahouh, Marcos Tebar, Edu Bedia.
He also made 10 interceptions in 6 games and stands on 9th in the number of interceptions in the league this season.
Rai ( born in October 1997), was scouted by the Tata Football Academy at the age of 13 and trained there for four years. After graduating from Tata, Rai signed with I-League side Dempo.
On signing Rai, Dempo head coach at the time, Arthur Papas said, "Vinit is a very cultured midfielder with a great range of passing. He has a willingness to always want the ball and link the play between the defensive and forward lines."
Rai made his debut for the India under-23 side on 27 March 2015 against Uzbekistan U23 in the 2016 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers. He played 80 minutes as India U23 lost 2–0. Almost a year later, Rai made his debut on the bench for the India senior side in their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iran. He did not come off the bench though. Rai, however, did make his unofficial debut for India in the team's unofficial friendly against Bhutan. He came on as a 64th minute for Rowllin Borges as India won 3–0.
If Rai continues his form, he can inspire Delhi Dynamos to get something from this season.
2)Mark Sifneos
Mark Sifneos celebrating his goal
Only foreign youngster we have got on the list as there are not many who play in India. Sifneos, who scored the first goal for Kerala blasters this season is one to watch out for. Only 21 he is the youngest foreigner to be signed by a team in the Indian Super League.
He scored twice in two matches, but his team were unable to win those matches.
Mark, born to a Greek father and a Dutch mother, lived in Greek island Paros till he was six before his family moved to Amsterdam. Sifneos started his football career with Dutch club SV Argon's U-19 side and later moved to Brabant United in 2014. In 2016, he moved to RKC Waalwijk's U-21 team and later played for their senior team.
With Dutch coach Rene Meulensteen gone, it will be interesting to see if Sifneos does get same playing time under new coach, and with Ugandan midfielder Kizito Keziron coming in there will be added pressure on the youngster.
1)Lallianzuala Chhangte
Chhangte became the youngest domestic talent to score and assist in the same ISL game against FC Pune City. He has switched off after that; the 20-year old registered himself on the scoresheet in the first game of season for Delhi Dynamos and then struggled in next 5 games.
He has put in 16 crosses in 6 games but has low passing accuracy of 55% and only registered one shot on target.
Lallianzuala was picked up by DSK Shivajians's Liverpool International Football Academy in 2014 to play for their under-18 team's debut season in the 2014-15 I-League U19 season by Liverpool youth coaches at the academy.
He finished the season as the top scorer in the league with 16 goals and helped his team qualify for the final round where they finished 7th. He was retained by DSK to play in the re-formatted 2015–16 I-League U18, where he helped his team qualify for the final round again with 9 goals in the Maharashtra zone. DSK finished 3rd in the final round of the playoffs, where he scored 2 more goals, thus taking his tally to 11 for the season.
In March 2016, Lallianzuala, along with club teammate Jerry Mawihmingthanga, trained at Liverpool's youth academy at Kirkby after impressing the youth coaches at DSK's LFC academy in India.
Lallianzuala represented India U19s for the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship qualification, appearing three times in a disappointing campaign. He was called up for the Indian squad for 2015 SAFF Championship. and made his debut for India on 25 December 2015 against Sri Lanka when he was substituted for Robin Singh in 77th minute with India winning the match 2–0. On 27 December 2015, Chhangte scored 2 goals for India in their 4–1 win over Nepal in the 2015 SAFF Championship. With the goals, he became the second youngest goalscorer for India's senior national team.
We will have to wait and see if he can regain his form and help Delhi Dynamos to revive.
