Yupangnenla Longkumer
September 28, 2015
Lorinthung Jami Lotha, a 19-year-old lad is an upcoming football player, who is determined to achieve big in the field of sports. He plays for Mohun Bagan, one of India’s renowned football clubs.
He was in the news for scoring the only goal of the match played between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal during the I- League U-19. “...God helped me score the goal,” he said.
Interacting with the Eastern Mirror, the humble young man said he is still pursuing his dream and compared to others he is nowhere. His love for football knows no bounds and his prayer is that someday, his hard work will bear fruits and reach the top. Lotha is from Merapani Foothill village and comes from a very humble background; his father, Lidemo Jami, is a Dobashi under ADC Bhandari subdivision of Wokha district. He has two elder brothers and a younger sister.
Unlike others, his favourite football player is Dr. T Ao, the first Naga footballer, adding that although he has not seen him play, he says his success story inspires him.
Narrating about his football journey, Lotha said the turning point in his life reached when he played football representing Golaghat district of Assam in an Under-13 match. Seeing his skill with the ball, he got a trial offer from Sports Academy of India (SAI), Golaghat in 2010, where out of 350 players, 20 were selected, of which he was also one of them.
After completion of three years in SAI Golaghat, he was hoping to join SAI, Guwahati however, in 2013 after receiving a call from his former coach, everything changed for better. The coach informed him about a trial for Mohun Bagan to be conducted in Kolkata. Lotha’s father was hesitant at the start however; he trusted his son and gave the green signal to pursue his one and only football dream.
On the trial day, Lotha was nervous especially after seeing the physique of other contenders. He asked for a break from the coach concerned to go the men’s room, there he prayed hard asking God for help. In the trial match, Lotha scored three goals and impressed the Mohun Bagan Sail Academy Director. It may be mentioned that out of 850 players, only 20 were selected.
When queried about any assistance from the government, Lotha said that he has reached this juncture only by sheer determination and support from family members. Stating that players from other states get financial assistance from their respective state government but for him, his father is the only one supporting him morally and financially with the meager salary, he gets. “... I am here without anyone’s help or support except god and my family.”
Lotha said he never expected that he would land up with a prestigious club in the country but with prayer and hard work, he has been able to accomplish a tiny part of his dream and he hopes that he will climb higher.
