Playing in I-League was phenomenal, elates Thoiba Singh

Former I-league champions Minerva Punjab FC will be a force to reckon with in the upcoming season and one of the players to watch out will be teenager Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, who is making waves at 16 years of age. The Manipur born footballer was a part of the India U-16 team that reached the quarter-finals of the AFC U-16 Championships last year in Malaysia and the side that lifted the Saff U-18 Championship 2019 in September.

At the domestic level, he made his professional debut with Minerva Punjab FC in the Hero I-League 2018/19 against the Indian Arrows at only 15 years 11 months old and became the youngest player to make a first-team debut in the Indian league system.

“Playing in the I-League was a phenomenal experience,” he told www.i-league.org, adding, “I learned a lot from it and it has made me a better player for sure.

“I have learned a lot how to behave in situations, how to be disciplined in terms of my diet and punctuality and managing my rest with all the travel involved,” Thoiba explained.

The teenager added that the senior players and coaches have influenced and helped him out to develop as a player and build confidence.

“Senior players such as Al Amna (Mahmoud) helped me a lot. They shared their experience and guided me on how to play on the field, keep myself fit and develop as a player. Sachin sir (former Minerva coach Sachin Badadhe) also taught me a great deal in terms of tactics and gave me the confidence to play my game.”

Thoiba, who can play in defence as well as a defensive midfielder, was up against seasoned veterans in the competition and confidently stated that he relishes such battles and believes there is no reason he cannot match them.

“I strongly believe that I am as good as them and there’s no reason why I cannot match them. On the night of the eve of matches, I visualise how I will face my opponents so as to gain an advantage on the pitch."