Mumbai City FC winger Lallianzuala Chhangte has had a memorable campaign in 2023 which guaranteed him his Indian football team call-up for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023. 

With 10 goals and six assists, Chhangte enjoyed his most successful season in terms of goal contributions in the previous campaign. Halfway through ISL 2023-24, the Mizo has already bagged himself two goals and as many assists.

While Chhangte was not a part of the Indian team that travelled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Asian Cup in 2019, his selection for the 2023 edition was inevitable. 

The 26-year-old can’t wait to take the field on the biggest stage of Asian football.

“I’m really excited and looking forward to it,”  stated Chhangte, speaking to the-aiff.com.

“It’s an honour to be able to represent my country at the highest level. I could not make it to the final squad in 2019, so it really is a dream come true for me to be here now,” he added.

Since his debut as a teenager in 2015, Chhangte has been erratically a part of the Indian football team. In recent years, he has had a phase of his career where he went through a trial by fire, juggling rejections and injuries at the same time. However, it is an experience that the former Chennaiyin FC player believes to have helped him grow into a mature man. 

He shared, “I’ve been more mature as a player and a human being in the last few years, and I think that’s what has helped me get to this stage at the moment.”

“Mostly during the hard times when I would be dropped from the team or suffer injuries (in 2021), I learned so many lessons. It was a very hard time, but it helped me focus on the important things and become a better human. I would not be the player I am today, had I not experienced them. I’m much clearer in my mind about what I have to do,” he elucidated. 

In 2023, Chhangte experienced football at its biggest stages for both club and country. He was instrumental in Stimac’s side securing three trophies (the Tri-Nation Cup, the Intercontinental Cup, and the SAFF Championship) in a single year. Furthermore, he represented Mumbai City FC in the AFC Champions League, facing some of the best teams in West Asia, like Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia), Nassaji Mazandaran (Iran), and PFC Navbahor (Uzbekistan).

Chhangte feels that these experiences have put him in good stead ahead of the upcoming Asian Cup campaign.

“You want to look back at the end of your career, and you want to say that you played at the highest level. These memories will stay with you forever. I am fortunate to have had these experiences and to be a part of this Asian Cup squad. It’s a really big thing for me,” beamed Chhangte.

“Having played in the AFC Champions League gave me a feel for how it could be against teams like Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria. We know what to expect and how we need to approach such games. I feel stronger mentally because of them,” he concluded.

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Mumbai City FC2023-2024 Lallianzuala Chhangte