New Delhi: At an age when most players make their club debut after rising up through the youth rank systems, Samuel Lalmuanpuia has already played for three years in the top division of Indian football and at 19 years and 193 days old is leading Shillong Lajong in the I-League this year.
“It is an honour to lead the club,” he said in an interaction with AIFF. “I am happy that the coaches selected me and have the faith in me to lead the team.”
That his team is currently positioned at fifth with 17 points after 14 games shows their season hasn’t gone swimmingly this term, but Lalmuanpuia who made his debut for Lajong as a substitue on 21 February 2016, in the 1-1 draw against DSK Shivajians is hopeful of a good finish.
“We definitely want to end the season on a high and at the top,” he said also adding that they need to put up a better performance in the remaining matches in such a highly-competitive league.
Till last year he was among one of those U-22 youngstars, six matches for whom was thought to be enough in the entire season but that he has transformed into a leader from spending time sitting on the bench during matches is a testimony of the potential the lad possess.
Mohun Bagan coach Sankarlal Chakraborty rated him as the current best dead-ball specialist in India, but for the midfielder there is nothing special about taking such good free-kicks.
“From the time I joined the Lajong Academy, I have been practising a lot under the coaches and I am continuing to do the same. So with practice and hard work, I feel I have become better at taking free kicks,” he quipped.
Still to make his debut for the Indian national team Samuel has won the Shillong Premier League Super Division in 2014, the U-19 Shillong Premier League in July 2015 and the Shillong Premier League Super Division in November 2015.
But the Mizoram lad just like any other player dreams of seeing himself in the national colours some day. “I would like to see myself being the best Footballer in the country,” added Lalmuanpuia who has already netted twice this season.
The surprising bit lies in the fact that both of his two goals this season has come against the two Kolkata giants, East Bengal and Mohun Bagan and is as remarkable as his first-ever goal which came against Aizawl FC in the 3-1 win which also happened to be his Lalmuanpuia’s first-ever North-eastern derby.