Internet Desk: Northeast United FC sign Jerry Mawihmingthanga and Lallianzuala Chhangte (Zola) from LFC-DSK Academy. Recently they were invited to Liverpool to take part in a week-long coaching programme at the LFC Academy in Kirkby, making them the first ever players from the LFC– DSK Academy to ever be awarded the chance.
The duo who have been with the LFC-DSK Academy for around two years have performed really well for both the Academy and the India national youth and senior teams. Lallianzuala recently became LFC-DSK’s first ever player to play for the Indian senior team, making history for not only being the nation’s youngest ever debutant but also youngest ever goal scorer. They have a combined 32 goals and 20 assists to their names in 2015-16 season for club and country.
The Highlanders have closed deals with the likes of Sporting Clube de Goa striker Sumit Passi and Bengaluru FC center-back Salam Ranjan Singh. Nirmal Chhetri has recovered from an injury which ruled him out of the second season of the ISL and after having completed his recuperation, the former Air India defender shall join the Northeast Brigade. Shouvik Ghosh, who was regarded as one of the best upcoming left footed defenders in the country before he suffered an injury, has been afforded a chance by NorthEast United FC to showcase his skills in the ISL after a stint with Delhi Dynamos in 2014. Lalrempuia Fanai, for whom FC Pune City paid 9.2 lakhs INR to Delhi Dynamos in round five of the Indian Super League (ISL) domestic draft last season, will now ply his trade for Northeast United FC.
Meanwhile, NEUFC also signed Subrata Paul and Rowlin Borges. Paul plied his trade for Mumbai City FC in the last two seasons and was on radar of Atletico de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters before joining the north-eastern outfit. Meanwhile 23-year-old Borges, who made nine appearances for the national team under Stephen Constantine, has joined the Highlanders.
On the other hand, Kerala Blasters, the Sachin Tendulkar co-owned franchise have signed two talented players.Not often do you see an Indian Super League (ISL) franchise scout for players from the second division of the I-League. However, Kerala Blasters have been proactive and made two top signings in Dempo SC’s midfielder Vinit Rai and Lonestar Kashmir FC’s striker Farukh Choudhury. Choudhary, who has scored five goals in 15 matches for Lonestar Kashmir, has been roped in by the Yellow and Blues from Kerala. The Kashmir-born striker is yet another talented product of the Pune FC academy. Rai, a former Tata Football Academy (TFA) graduate, is known for his range of passing and link-up play with the attackers.Standing at over six feet, he is physically strong and will certainly be a vital addition to Blasters’ squad.