Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia is one of the exciting Indian talents plying his trade in I-League this season. He made the headlines last season when he scored 15 goals in the competition in 20 games breaking the record once held by the great Sunil Chhetri.
You seem to think after the spectacular season he would have an easy ride to the Indian Super League (ISL) but an unfortunate injury not only kept him away from the ISL where he failed his medicals with Mohun Bagan he was also sidelined from the first national team camp summoned by Monolo Marquez.
But the Mizo youngster was confident of his abilities and in the same den he once made his mark, he returned as a wounded Lion. He started this season the same way he ended the last one—strong and full of confidence.
Fieldvision had an honour to speak to Aizawl FC striker for an exclusive interview and this is what he said. Excerpt of the conversation as below.
The conversation started off with him expressing his views on his exploits of last season. Speaking about carrying forward the same momentum from last season, he expressed how much it meant to him.
“It feels amazing to carry that momentum forward. Ending last season on a high note gave me a lot of confidence. I’ve worked hard during the off-season to be fit. Starting this season strong was really important for me. I just want to stay consistent and help the team achieve our goals this year.”
Early Football Journey and Bengaluru FC Days
Growing up in Mizoram, football was always an integral part of Lalbianka’s life. He took his first major step when he joined Bengaluru FC’s youth setup, an experience he cherishes.
“BFC is really great for youngsters as they have very good facilities, and everything was top-notch. I was there for three years, but injury struck, and I wasn’t able to play many matches during my last year. So, I had to move to Gokulam Kerala’s reserve team.”
Despite the unfortunate injury, he credits Bengaluru FC for providing him with a solid foundation before moving to Gokulam Kerala which in his words was a turning point in his career.
“I was able to perform there without any injury, and in my opinion, I did well enough to play for the senior team. But they didn’t favor me enough to play for them, so I played three years for the reserve team,” before returning home to Mizoram side Chhinga Veng FC.
Joining Aizawl FC—A Dream Come True
Hailing from Mizoram, Lalbiaknia always admired Aizawl FC and hoped to represent them someday. His dream became a reality when he signed for the club in the summer of 2023.
Fondly speaking about Aizawl FC he says, “Growing up in Mizoram, football was always a big part of my life, and Aizawl FC has been one of the biggest clubs from our state. So, of course, as a young player, I admired them and dreamed of playing for them one day. Playing for a club from my home state is always a matter of pride.”
Breaking a Record Held by Sunil Chhetri
Last season, Lalbiaknia made headlines by breaking a long-standing record held by Sunil Chhetri. He recalled how surreal the moment was and added, “It was an unbelievable feeling! Last season was my debut with Aizawl, and I just wanted to make an impact for the team. Breaking a long-standing record, especially one held by a legend like Sunil Chhetri, was something I never even dreamed of. He has set the standard for Indian footballers, and to achieve something that puts me in the same conversation as him is a huge honor.”
Although the record was a personal accomplishment but he emphasized by saying the larger goal was that his focus was to contributing for the team.
“For me, the most important thing was helping my team. This achievement has only motivated me to work harder and keep improving so I can contribute even more in the future.”
Goals for the Season
Lalbiaknia has set ambitious targets for himself and the team this season and with 7 goals in 9 games for the #7 there is no looking back. He informed by saying, “Personally, my goal this season is to improve on last year’s performance and break my own record by scoring more than 15 goals. I know it won’t be easy, but I believe in my abilities and the support of my teammates.”
As far as the team target goes, he stressed the importance of consistency and improvement.
“As a team, our target is to finish higher in the league table. Last season had its ups and downs, but we learned a lot from it. This time, we want to be more consistent in the remaining matches and fight for every point.”
Interest from ISL Clubs and the Injury Setback
After an impressive season in the I-League, Lalbiaknia attracted interest from ISL clubs. As stated earlier, he was close to securing a move to ISL Shield winner Mohun Bagan Super Giant but the move did not materialised due to an unfortunate injury.
He recalls the tough period and comments, “After last season, there was some interest from ISL clubs, and it’s always a great feeling to know that your performances are being noticed. Every player dreams of playing at the highest level, and the ISL is a big stage for Indian football. Even, I signed for Mohun Bagan Super Giants. But I couldn’t pass the medical because of my injury.”
National Team Aspirations
Every Indian professional football player in this country dreams of wearing the India Blues and Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia is no different. With Edmund Lalrindika, plying his trade in the I-League earning call-ups to the Indian national team, Lalrinzuala is optimistic about his chances too. “Yes, in the last few windows, we’ve seen I-League players getting called up for the national team, which is a big motivation for all of us. It shows that if you perform well, no matter where you play, you will get noticed, “ he noted
However, he understands that earning a national team spot requires consistent performances.
“As for me, I would love to represent India—it’s every player’s dream. But I know that to earn a call-up, I have to keep performing at a high level, be consistent, and work even harder. Last season, I couldn’t join the national camp because of the injury. I came back stronger, and now, I am ready for any challenge.”
Ambition to Play Abroad
While most Indian players remain in domestic leagues, Lalbiaknia is open to the idea of playing abroad. He believes exposure to foreign leagues could help him develop further.
“Yes, I do have the ambition to play abroad someday. It doesn’t necessarily have to be Europe—there are many good leagues in Asia and other parts of the world where Indian players can grow and improve.”
Though his current focus remains on excelling at Aizawl FC, he remains hopeful for opportunities overseas in the future.
“Playing in a foreign league would be a great challenge and an opportunity to develop my game at a higher level. But for now, my focus is on giving my best for Aizawl FC and continuing to improve as a player.”
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