Meghalaya: This 13-yr-old Khasi Girl has led FC Pune City to a brilliant win!
July 7, 2017: The inaugural WIFA Women's Championship came to conclusion on Monday, July 3rd evening after FC Pune City triumphed over an energetic United Poona SA side 3-0 at Cooperage Stadium. It was 13-year old Senorita Nongpluh's brilliance which inspired Mohan Das' side to overcome a tough challenge from United Poona SA.
Prior to WIFA (Western India Football Association) Women's Championship, who'd have thought a 13-year old would take the Championship by storm? Earlier this year, FC Pune City's star striker Senorita Nongpluh made the headlines when she became the youngest Player ever to feature in the Indian Women's League.
A few days later, she broke another record after scoring against Aizawl FC to become the youngest goalscorer ever in the National League. Even Indian Women's Team legend Bembem Devi praised her when she was up against Senorita herself during a league game.
"She reminds me of myself," Bembem said.
After the post-match presentation, she thanked her teammates and coach for giving her the opportunity and support. Not to forget, it was Senorita who scored twice to help FC Pune City lift the title.
When asked how she has gelled and mingled with the team so well, the 13-year old said: "I am with them since the last five years. Though I feel new to them, we have always mingled pretty well with each other. We crack jokes and I have a special bond with everyone."
"Each one of them has treated me like parents. I am so thankful to the whole team and coach for playing and encouraging me throughout the Championship," Senorita said.
"I want to improve on shooting, whenever I enter the box, I have always tried dribbling instead of finishing. That's where I want to improve," Senorita on where she needs to improve to become a much better player.
Hailing from a Meghalaya, her family shifted base to Pune nearly a decade ago, the youngster has received enough patronage from her parents to take football seriously as an extra-curricular activity. Her father, now a teacher by profession, had played for a few local clubs back in Shillong during his college days while her elder brother is part of the FC Pune City U-16 team. Now a student of class VII, Senorita is a football fanatic even though, at times, she fails to motivate herself enough to juggle between studies and the practice sessions.
'Wanted to be a goalie, because I thought they didn't need to work that hard'
"There are days when I don't feel enthusiastic enough to attend the practice, but my parents ensure that I don't take a break," said Senorita, highlighting the role played by her parents. The mischievous smile returns to her face again when asked about her preferred role on the pitch. "I usually play as a striker but till a few years ago, I wished to be a goalkeeper. I thought they don't need to work hard like other players, so it would be fun to be play in that position," she reasoned with a sheepish smile.
However, that was not to be the case since her composure in possession is what is considered to be her biggest strength. "She had come to the Pune FC trial when she was only nine years old. But even then, her first touch was very good and I wasted no time to make her a part of the academy," Kalpana Dass, the head coach of the FC Pune City Women's team, told Scroll.
The diminutive girl looks up to India international Eugeson Lyngdoh as her idol. "He had come once to meet us during a club programme, but I couldn't muster enough courage to go and talk to him," she recounted. "Apart from him, I like Bala Devi (a pivotal member of the Indian national team) and Lionel Messi."
As much as Senorita's story is about the emergence of a potential future star of the women's national team, it is about the requirement of a scouting network at the grassroots level. "We need a proper framework to tap such talents and then need to hone their skills with methodical coaching," Dass added.
The new sensation of Indian women's football, though, is unperturbed by all the challenges that lie ahead. "I want to pursue football as a career and not as a hobby," she once said.
Senorita Nongpluh became the youngest Indian to score in a national league after scoring a goal against Aizawl FC in February this year .
TNT News with inputs from Scroll and Western India Football Association-(WIFA)
Featured image courtesy: FC Pune City
