Shillong, Apr 18: Bengaluru FC are miles in front of the other three teams in Group A of the AIFF’s Junior League Bangalore Zone and they’ve got a couple of young Meghalaya footballers in their ranks who have been among the goals.
Lastborn Mawphniang (left) and Damaitphang Lyngdoh (right) have made the starting line-up in each of Bengaluru’s three games so far this season and have scored seven goals between them. That’s a lot, yes, but BFC have been running riot, winning these matches 20-0, 12-0 and 12-0.
Lyngdoh recorded a hat-trick in the first match against Sporthood FC and scored once more in the next fixture versus Raman Sports Academy. Mawphniang then got into the thick of things with a hat-trick of his own in the third match, which was against Ananthapur Sports Academy.
Mawphniang and Lyngdoh had represented Meghalaya in the sub-junior nationals before they joined Bengaluru in 2017. Another two boys from the state also joined the current Indian Super League and twice I-League champions at the same time – Dawanplielad Myrchiang and Manbhakupar Iawphniaw. These two represented Meghalaya in the junior nationals before being signed up by Bengaluru.
Myrchiang was on the bench in two Second Division League matches this season for Bengaluru reserves but didn’t get to see any action. Iawphniaw, meanwhile, has played for the club in the Elite League (formerly the U-18 Youth League).
Bengaluru have five more zonal round games to go in the Junior League and we’ll be keeping an eye out for Mawphniang and Lyngdoh now and in the future too, we’re sure.
(Photo contributed by Bengaluru FC)