Four years ago an 18-year-old announced his arrival at the senior level of Indian men’s football with a sumptuous brace. The late double that Lallianzuala Chhangte scored against Nepal in the group stage of the 2015 SAFF Championship at the Sports Hub in Thiruvananthapuram gave high hopes for Team India.
That however wasn’t the beginning of a beautiful story, at least not yet, as Chhangte, now 22, could not emerge into the ‘next big thing’ in Indian football and the expectations of developing into another Baichung Bhutia as was projected when the Mizo striker became the third youngest goalscorer for the country, right behind the legend, weighed him down.
Moving on from DSK Shivajians and playing on loan at NorthEast United before joining the Delhi Dynamos offered the youngster ample exposure to showcase flashes of brilliance but it never gave him enough time with the senior team.
Now, with the arrival of new national coach Igor Stimac, Chhangte is eager to impress and he is determined to make the squad for the Intercontinental Cup that begins July 7 in Ahmedabad.
Chhangte is hoping to become a mainstay in the national squad as he sweats it out at the preparatory camp for next month’s event, in Mumbai.
Chhangte said he was heartbroken to not make India’s AFC Asian Cup squad but was glad to be part of Stimac’s first starting XI, against Curacao in the King’s Cup in Thailand last month.
“I was broken, disappointed,” Chhangte told the all India football federation, about missing out on the Asian Cup squad earlier this year.
“But I realised sitting over that wouldn't help and the moment motivated me. I realised that I hadn’t done enough. I needed to do more.”
Earlier this year Chhangte had a brief trial with Norwegian side Vikings FK and he believes similar opportunities in the near future will make him a better player.
“I have always dreamt of playing outside India. Playing abroad will help me turn into a better player. I'll, hopefully, go for another trial at Viking FK after the recent national team commitments get over,” Chhangte said.
