MUMBAI: Eugeneson Lyngdoh sat there shaking his head, as the paddles were raised at breezy speed. Auctioneer Charlie Ross had clearly found his prized object for the day and coaxed club owners to bid higher.
‘80 lakh anyone, 82, 84, 86 88…’ and on it went and Ross took bid after bid, with about five teams in the race for Lyngdoh’s signature. Atletico de Kolkata took it all the way to a crore, the first of the day, before FC Pune City snapped him up for Rs 1.05 crore.
Lyngdoh’s face wore an expression of disbelief, like that of a man who had just stumbled onto a lottery-winning ticket. “I don’t know how to react to what unfolded. It feels good to know so many clubs wanted me,” the shy 28-year-old, who represents Bengaluru FC in I-League, said after the first round of auctions on Friday.
“All I can say is I am grateful to God and Pune City for handing me this opportunity. I am excited. I want to play. I would like to give my best. We can achieve more. Just to be part of the auction, to be selected among the top 10 in India is great to build up my self esteem.” Having missed out on the ISL last year, 10 of India’s best had been up for grabs. Lyngdoh’s base price was Rs 27.5 lakh in the first-ever auction in Indian football history. And while Sunil Chhetri won the highest bid, going to Mumbai City FC for Rs 1.2 crore (base price Rs 80 lakh), Lyngdoh made the biggest jump.
Lyngdoh’s deft touch, footballing acumen and box-to-box movement made him stand out for Bengaluru FC and also prompted India coach Stephen Constantine to hand him international debut during the World Cup qualifiers. “We knew that was the player we wanted,” co-owner and Bollywood star Hrithik Roshan told reporters later. The teams’ willingness to inflate the price not only showed how deep the Indian corporate pockets run, but was also a valuation of one of the rare raw football talents that the country has. More importantly, and the Bengaluru FC coaches and Constantine himself vouch for it, Lyngdoh is one of those rarer talents who does not shy from giving his hundred per cent every single time on the football pitch.