Aizawl FC promotes eight academy players to senior team

The promoted players are drawn from four U-18 academies that the I-League club has instituted in different districts of Mizoram.

Aizawl FC is a former I-League champion, having won the title in the 2016-17 season. File Photo: Biswaranjan Rout

Aizawl FC looked to strengthen its squad ahead of the new I-League season by promoting eight players from its academy to the senior team.

The announcement makes the former I-League champion continue as one of the few outfits in the country which draw a big section of their recruits from their own football schools.

The promoted players are drawn from the four U-18 academies that Aizawl FC has instituted in different districts of Mizoram. This club also has seven U-15 academies in different regions of the State as part of its longstanding youth development programme.

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The eight players — Vanlalhriatpuia (Goalkeeper), Lalchungnunga, Melory Laldinsanga (both defenders), Peter Lalduhawma, Sangdingliana, Ayush Dev Chhetri, (all midfielders), P.C. Lalhriatpuia, David Lalhlansanga ((both forward) — will be joining the existing list of a dozen players who have been retained by the club.

Apart from the Indian recruits, Aizawl FC also retained two foreigners — Liberian midfielder Alfred Kemah Jaryan  and Ugandan defender Juuko Richard Kassaga — for another season.