How Mizoram turned into Indian football’s conveyor belt of talent
The HinduMizoram is no ordinary place. “Popular players like Jerry Lalrinzuala, Lalengmawia ‘Apuia’ Ralte, and Isaac Vanmalsawma are products of these academies.” Lallianzuala Chhangte is among the biggest talents to have emerged from Mizoram in recent years. The seed for this prodigious growth was sown at the onset of the last decade when four institutions – MFA, Zonet, the state’s largest broadcaster, Mizoram State Sports Council, and Tata Trust - stepped up to modernise the football infrastructure. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT “Mizoram was the first Indian state to avail of the FIFA- Sharing the hands-on experience of what goes on at the centres, Vishal Jaishi, an Aizawl-based grassroots coach, says, “We impart basic training, help kids pick up skills and become fit, dividing them into seven age groups - six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, and 12. Two years later, there was further evidence of Mizoram’s steady rise when Aizawl FC won the I-League – the then top tier of Indian football – in 2017.
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