Shillong Lajong FC Media
Shillong: The young striker from the Shillong Lajong FC Academy, Samuela Lalmuanpuia, who made his debut in the recently-concluded Hero I-League season, is the youngest goal scorer in the history of the I-League.
At Lajong, Samuela has won the Shillong Premier League Super Division in 2014, U-19 Shillong Premier League in July 2015 and the Shillong Premier League Super Division in November 2015.
The young, cheerful striker from Mizoram made 11 appearances in Lajong’s Shillong Premier League triumph last year and scored 10 goals with a further 3 assists. On seeing his potential, excellent football skills and confidence in front of goal, he was then given the opportunity to play in the Club’s senior team.
Samuela, who regards his father as his inspiration in life, made his first I-League appearance against DSK Shivajians in Pune and played 11 out of a total of 14 I-League matches. He scored his first top-flight goal in the North-East Derby against his former team Aizawl FC on 1st March 2016 in Shillong. Lajong won the Derby 3-1.
With this goal, the 17-year-old striker became the youngest scorer in I-League history. The club is proud to have Samuela Lalmuanpuia set a record for himself in the I-League as well as set an example to many other young football aspirants across the region and the country.
Speaking to Samuel on achieving such a big feat at a very young age he said, “I am very thankful to my club for giving me the chance to grow as a player and the opportunity to be part of the senior team. It’s every young footballers dream to play in a big stage at a senior national level and without the support and believe that the club has in me it wouldn’t have been possible to reach where I have today.”
He further added, “It felt great to score my first I-League goal in my third match appearance against Aizawl FC. I kept pushing myself very hard in training as I was really determined to score for my club and help the team be in a good position. But this doesn’t stop here and I am only getting started. I want to grow more with Lajong, play more matches and learn new things every day. I wish to make improvements in departments where I lack, gain more confidence and hopefully I get a chance to don the National Team colours as well.”
Shillong Lajong finished their Hero I-League campeign in the sixth place and they reached the Federation Cup semi-final stage, on the other hand, the junior team, drawn from the Academy, are getting in the grooves and are currently plying their trade in the U-18 Shillong Premier League.
