History made at LFC's India Academy
LFC-DSK Academy player Lallianzuala Chhangte made history by becoming the youngest player to represent the Indian national team at the age of 18 against Sri Lanka in the SAFF Cup fixture on Christmas Day.
He replaced Robin Singh in the second half and became India’s 502nd international player.
An attacking player with an enviable youth goal scoring record, Lallianzuala earnt a call up to the India U19 team earlier this year where he played in the SAFF Championship and FAM-FRENZ Asean Champions Trophy.
His first senior cap soon followed after he impressed the India head coach, Stephen Constantine, on a recent training camp.
Three other players at the LFC-DSK Academy, Mawihmingthanga, Jedidi Haokip and Rohit Kumar, were also selected for the Indian U19 squad earlier this season, as well as Tenzin Shezang, who has represented the U19 Bhutan national team.
LFC-DSK Academy head coach Dave Rogers sad: “This is a fantastic achievement for Lallianzuala and everyone involved in the LFC-DSK Academy in India.
"To have a full international player and five U19 internationals within our Academy ranks in only our second season is phenomenal progress.
"Lallianzuala has demonstrated a fantastic attitude to training and desire to constantly improve from the first day he arrived at our India Academy. Just 18 months ago he was playing for his local team, and now he’s the youngest player to represent India!
"To play for his country at just 18 years of age is a fantastic achievement and something that he should rightly be proud of.
“This also shows the positive impact that the LFC International Academies can have in the countries where we operate. We aim to develop every player that attends our programmes, both on and off the pitch, and also help improve football here in India.
"We still have lots of objectives to meet and future targets; however 2015 has been a great year for the LFC-DSK Academy and long may that continue.”
The LFC-DSK Academy compete in the U18 I-league in India and have qualified for the national finals of that competition in the New Year.
During 2015 LFC delivered coaching programmes in 18 countries, across four continents via our International Academies.
To find out more about the LFC-DSK Academy click here.