Phrangki Buam is regarded as one of the most promising youngsters to come out of the I-League fold and has been signed by FC Goa on a three-deal starting this season. He joins a long list of youngsters from the Northeast region of India who has gone on to make a big name for themselves in Indian football over the years.

Buam credits his family for always supporting him through his nascent footballing journey despite the tough life back in Meghalaya.

“It was tough to balance school and football both together but I had to adapt myself to do well in both. My family was always interested in sports and I just want to do well in football because they have given me the freedom to play and have had my back every step of the way,” remarked the teenager in an exclusive interview.

Buam started his footballing career as a young 14-year old prospect in the youth setup of Meghalayan club Royal Wahingdoh. However, his journey in the sport had started two years earlier when he went for the trials conducted by Sports Authority of India (SAI) despite reluctance from his mother who felt he was too small in size to compete on the field. His uncle was crucial in convincing his parents and Buam went for the trials and was selected by SAI. He spent a couple of years with SAI before joining Royal Wahingdoh.

Flourishing in Lajong

After playing for the youth teams at Royal Wahingdoh, he was signed by Shillong Lajong FC in 2018. He impressed for the team in the U-18 Youth I-League leading them to the title and was awarded a call-up to the senior I-League squad. He featured for Lajong in the 2018-19 I-League campaign, where he played 20 matches getting on the scoresheet 6 times – impressing everyone in his debut season at the senior stage.

In addition to his performances in the I-League, Buam also helped Lajong win the Meghalaya State League and Shillong Premier League, finishing as the team’s top goal-scorer with a total of 24 goals, both tournaments combined.

Buam also went on a loan spell to FC Bengaluru United in the 2nd Division I-League last season, a stint which was marked by the motivation to improve himself and do well outside Meghalaya.

“I felt that I need to play more games in order to improve before going to the highest level of Indian football. It was a new challenge for me but I enjoyed it thoroughly,” recollected Buam.  “I had a great experience with them. It was my first club that I played for outside my home state Meghalaya even if it was just for a few months. I learnt a lot from the coaches Richard Hood and Gouramangi Singh. So, it was a fruitful experience for me.”

On signing a long term deal with FC Goa, Buam said he was always a fan of the club since the beginning of ISL and considers it as a great opportunity to showcase his talent.

“Since the very beginning of the ISL, I have always admired FC Goa. This is like my dream come true; to play with one of the best clubs in India. We will also be playing in the AFC Champions League, that was another motivation,” added the attacking midfielder. 

“My career, though, is just starting and I feel this is where I will get the best opportunity to improve and show my talent. My aim is to get a place in the starting XI and get as much playing time as possible. I will give my best in every training session and whenever called for in a game.”

Phrangki Buam admires Sunil Chhetri and Cristiano Ronaldo and will be one of the most promising youngsters to watch out for in this season of the Indian Super League. It will be interesting to see how he fares in his debut season for the Gaurs.

This article first appeared on our content partners website – www.footballcounter.com. This article does not necessarily represent the viewpoint of FC Goa.