CALCUTTA (India): This one goal on a freezing cold night on Thursday night against Afghanistan in Dushanbe in Tajikistan might change the life of Len Doungel.
“Everytime I walk out on the pitch, I try to give my 100 per cent for the team,” the 25-year-old tweeted recently.
Len, born in Saikul (Manipur), scored his maiden international goal for the country.
Interestingly, the FC Goa forward became the first Indian to find the net in this year’s Indian Super League.
But his international goal for India in the second-half added time against the tough Afghans could bring smiles to the goal-starved Indian side, who has found difficulties to convert the chances in the qualifiers.
It remains to be seen if Len gets a start against Oman on November 19 in Muscat.
A modest beginning
A lot of Indian clubs send their scouts to Manipur to hold trials in Sekmai, Moirang, Churachandpur in the south and Saikul in the north.
There’s abundant of untapped talent in this north-eastern state, which has gifted Indian football the Rennedys, Gouramangis, Khelembas and Surkumars in the late 90s.
The flow of talent is uninterruped with Udanta Singh, 19-year-old goalkeeper Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, midfielder Jackichand Singh finding a place in the senior squad along with Len.
Besides these guys possess god-given strength and the ability to work hard.
What they need a right platform to show their performance, and Thursday night was such an opportunity when Saikul’s most prominent contributions to Indian football helped India escape from a humiliating defeat.
Talent honed at JCT and East Bengal
As a youngster, Lentravelled to Phagwara with his uncle to attend a trial at the JCT youth team before joining East Bengal in 2011 I-League.
But the Manipuri played only a few matches before making his international debut at the AFC Cup on May 9, 2012 against Kazma.
He started that match and played 72 minutes before being substituted off as East Bengal lost 2-1.
In between, East Bengal loaned him out to Pailan Arrows before joining Shillong Lajong in 2014.
On May 20 this year, Len signed a two-year contract with Goa on a free transfer from Kerala Blasters.
