Mohun Bagan Super Giant midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte appreciated the Reliance Foundation Naupang League for improving the grassroots footballing infrastructure in Mizoram. 23-year-old Apuia, as he is popularly known, hails from Aizawl and has risen the ranks to become one of the finest players in the Indian Super League (ISL). He has made 91 appearances in the competition since debuting for NorthEast United FC in 2019-20.
The Naupang League is a collaboration between the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) and the Mizoram Football Association, aimed at developing community-level football in the north-eastern state. The third season of the competition began on August 24 and it will be a nine-month-long campaign, whilst operating in four districts, namely: Aizawl, Champhai, Kolasib, and Lunglei, across the U-8, U-10, U-12, and U-14 age groups.
Apuia is confident that the RFYC Naupang League will provide competitive playing opportunities to youngsters and help expand the talent pool for Indian football.
“The RFYC Naupang League is very good for the young players. If the foundation is strong, the building is always good. It’s beneficial for the young players to train professionally, as it helps the players to improve significantly. Earlier in India, we didn’t have good infrastructure for youngsters. However, with the help of Reliance Foundation, a lot of youngsters will emerge, helping Indian football create a bigger pool of talented players in the country,” the midfielder said in an interview with the Indian Super League.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Kolkata Derby”.
Apuia relished a decorated spell at Mumbai City FC from 2021 to 2024, playing a critical role in helping them become the ISL League Winners in 2022-23 and ISL Cup Winners in 2023-24 respectively.
His transfer to the Mariners opens a new chapter in his fledgling career. Apuia has played in several high-pressure matches in the ISL and also in the AFC Champions League for the Islanders. However, the magnitude of the Kolkata Derby is cut from a different cloth and the midfielder is eagerly looking forward to participating in the same, especially with Mohammedan SC joining the league from the 2024-25 season onwards.
“I am very excited to be a part of the Kolkata Derby. In India, it’s one of the most important matches in the ISL and it will be a very exciting journey for me. Not only for Kolkata, but having Mohammedan SC in the ISL is great for Indian football. It majorly helps the players as there will be more footballers and more teams, resulting in a greater number of matches, so it’s very good for Indian football,” he signed off.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant will begin their ISL 2024-25 campaign by hosting Mumbai City FC in the season opener at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (VYBK) in Kolkata on September 13, at 7:30 pm IST.
The first Kolkata Derby of the upcoming edition of the competition will take place on October 5, at 7:30 pm IST, at the same stadium, between Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mohammedan SC.
