I-League 2017/18: 5 relatively unknown players who made a mark this season

#2 Samuel Lalmuanpuia (Shillong Lajong)

Samuel was awarded the best young player of the I-League this season

The youngest team captain in the I-League this season Samuel lived up to his club’s expectation this season, the club had high hopes when they handed out the 19-year-old Lajong academy graduate the captain's armband for the season.

Lajong saw a host of their players and even their ex-coach join the ISL bandwagon but that didn’t have any adverse effect on the club as they again showed that a club which has an effective youth system in place will never suffer from a player crisis. Lajong in all their games fielded nearly 6-7 U-23 players something which no other Indian team can dream of.

Samuel played 17 games this season and scored 3 goals and bagged 5 assists. He is a master of set pieces and most of his goals has come from free kicks. Impeccable technique, calm and composed on the ball Samuel is one of the biggest prospects in Indian football at the moment.

A lot of ISL clubs have reportedly tried to sign the player, but it looks like the Mizo captain of the Reds from Shillong is going nowhere as he has a long-term contract with them.

Samuel had a big role in ensuring that Lajong qualified for the Super Cup directly by finishing 6th in the league table.

He was also awarded the best young player of the I-League this season.