Mumbai/Shillong, July 10: It was a day of triumph for footballers from the Northeast in the Indian Super League (ISL) auction and draft for domestic footballers today.
While Meghalaya midfielder Eugeneson Lyngdoh created history by becoming the second Indian player along with Sunil Chetri to command an eight-figure salary in the ISL, three others - Jackichand Singh, Thoi Singh and Seityasen Singh - also grabbed the limelight in the auction with huge payments against their names.
But nothing could be compared with the way six franchises fought bitterly in the auction to get hold of Lyngdoh, a Bengaluru FC player in the I League. And when FC Pune City finally clinched the deal with a price of Rs 1.05 crore, everyone present in the hall broke into a huge applause.
"It was like a dream came true for me," said Lyngdoh later.
"When Hrithik Roshan came and embraced me and said a few words of congratulations, I felt a kind of happiness that can only be compared with scoring a goal from a difficult angle.
"I was so dazed that I could not even talk to him properly. All I said that I would give my best for the Pune side. That remains my primary duty," said Lyngdoh.
Roshan said even he was bit nervous when the bid for Lyngdoh began. "We had our eyes on the boy and were very sure that we needed him. We had to spend a lot of money for him but I had never been so happy by spending money. Orange (the team colour) has become a bit more orange, now. It was worth a buy. Lyngdoh is certainly a very fine player. He is welcome in our Pune family," Roshan added.
Hailing from Mawngap, a suburb of Shillong, Lyngdoh is a household name in this part of the globe. The excited footballer, while speaking to The Telegraph in Shillong over phone from Mumbai, said he did not expect to become a " crorepati". "I was expecting nothing beyond Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh," he said.
But he thanked Bengaluru FC for "developing" him as a player. Lyngdoh had shown remarkable improvement in his skills ever since he joined Bengaluru FC nearly a year ago.
Relishing his moment in the sun, the midfielder thanked his supporters who are miles away back home. "I thank them for the support they have been giving me. This is something I am proud of, and I am sure they must be proud too," Lyngdoh said.
As a message to his fans, he said, "If you have dreams, pursue them, and they will take you somewhere."
An alumnus of St Edmund's School, Shillong, before completing his education at Bishop Cotton Boys' School, Bengaluru, Lyngdoh was a regular at the Polo football ground with the erstwhile Ar-Hima Sports Club, which was rechristened as Rangdajied United FC.
The 28-year-old first played in the I League from Shillong Lajong FC in the 2011-12 season before captaining Rangdajied in the 2013-14 season.
In the 2014-15 season, Lyngdoh played for Bengaluru FC alongside India captain Chetri. He also made his debut for India in March 2015 against Nepal in the first leg of a two-legged 2018 FIFA World Cup pre-qualifier.
Pune also bagged Manipur footballer Jackichand Singh for Rs 45 lakh. Currently with Royal Wahingdoh in the I League, Jackichand has become an important member of the national team under British coach Stephen Constantine. His base price was Rs 20 lakh but the Pune franchise were able to outbid FC Goa and bag the midfielder for Rs. 45 lakh.
Jackichand, 23, hails from Kontha Ahallup village in Imphal East district and is a favourite in the state football circuit. "We are not surprised; we knew he will play in the big league. His selection will encourage young foorballers of Manipur," said Ranjit Roy, secretary of the All-Manipur Football Association in Imphal today.
Jackichand was adjudged the "best player" in the recent I-League. He is a midfielder playing for Royal Wahingdoh FC, a Shillong-based club, since 2009. In its first appearance in the 2014-15 I-League, Wahingdoh finished third after Mohun Bagan and Bengaluru FC. Jackichand scored five goals in 18 appearances, and made his debut for India in March 2015.
Bigger drama was awaiting the onlookers when midfielder Thoi Singh's name was announced for the auction. With a base price of Rs 39 lakh, there was a huge tussle between Mumbai City FC and Chennaiyin FC for recruiting the 24-year-old Manipuri footballer, who plays for the Bengaluru FC. In the end, the Chennai official called for Rs 86 lakh, thus silencing the star Mumbai bidder, Ranbir Kapoor.
Seityasen Singh went for Rs 56 lakh and he looked the happiest man on earth when North East United FC boss John Abraham made a determined effort to get him.
"Seityasen is a footballer, who can play on both the wings. We were eying him from the beginning and just delighted to get him with us. At the same time, we are focussed on footballers from the North East and want to make a top class team with them. Seityasen would surely play a big part in it," the filmstar said.
Additional Reporting by Robert Sapam in Imphal
