Filling the Gap: Shabong Ready To Step Up for India’s Midfield Challenge

Meghalaya has always fallen short compared to its neighbours – Manipur and Mizoram – in producing national team footballers.

But that seems to be changing with more young footballers representing India in the age groups and showing the promise to one day don the senior national team jersey. And the closest to that privilege is Ricky Shabong, the Punjab FC player who got a place in Khalid Jamil’s list of probables for the four-nation Unity Cup in London.

“Since I started playing, it’s been my dream to wear the national team jersey. That’s what I have been aiming for,” Shabong said during an interaction with TOI after getting the news of his call-up.

With Mohun Bagan Super Giant withdrawing their seven players from the national camp on Saturday, and East Bengal asking injured Anwar Ali to avoid the travel, the Meghalaya midfielder’s dream looks closer than before.

“I have played for the age teams. But now that I have been selected for the senior national squad, I’m really excited and want to fight more to represent my country and make my mom, dad and everyone supporting me, proud.” the delighted 23-year-old said.

“I want to be like Eugeneson Lyngdoh, who has been my inspiration, and play for India,” he added.

Lyngdoh – one of the few Meghalaya footballers like Rocus Lamare and Aiborlang Khongjee to have played in the senior India men’s team – however, feels that it’s the dedication of youngsters like Shabong that’s taking them so far.

“He has done so well for Punjab FC in the ISL,” Lyngdoh told TOI, while wishing Shabong the best for the upcoming London sojourn. “While the infrastructure and facilities in the state have developed a lot now, I still believe that Ricky and others like him are working very hard and not letting all of that go to waste.”

Shabong, who played as a right back in the India U17, U19 and U20 teams, has grown into a central midfielder over his three seasons at Punjab FC and has become an important inclusion in coach Panagiotis Dilmperis’s scheme of things.

“I grew up watching Xavi and Iniesta. I loved their play in defence and attack. But I played as right back in the beginning,” said the former Indian Arrows ward.

“It was in Punjab that I began playing in midfield and, although I found it tough first, the coach helped me adapt and now I am a complete midfielder.”

With Jamil missing the likes of his No. 7 Anirudh Thapa in midfield, Shabong could be the one among the 18 players that the coach is left with to take up that crucial role.