I want to play 400-plus matches for Mumbai City FC – Phurba Lachenpa

Mumbai City FC goalkeeper Phurba Lachenpa wants to play 400 matches for the club. The 26-year-old has made 48 appearances in the ISL and has done a good job for the Islanders.

He received the Golden Glove award for 42 saves and kept nine clean sheets in 22 appearances for the club in ISL 2023-24. Thus, he played a key role in taking the Islanders to glory as they defeated Mohun Bagan Super Giant by 3-1 in the final.

Lachenpa also played a key role in the team’s final win against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. The shot-stopper revealed how he handled the pressure of playing in front of almost 60,000 MBSG fans.

“Frankly speaking, it was no pressure for me. Growing up as a sport-loving kid, I have seen such huge numbers in the stands, and I have always wanted to play in front of such a huge crowd. So, for us, it’s always a motivation playing in front of such a crowd, and for me personally, it’s an added source of motivation. I want to prove myself in such an atmosphere. Whether it’s a home crowd or away crowd, for me it gives me the same motivation to prove myself. The Kolkata crowd was tremendous and it’s a good sign for Indian football that people came in such huge numbers. It was an added motivation for us in the final,” Lachenpa told Revsportz.

Meanwhile, Lachenpa recalled how he kickstarted his football journey and revealed his biggest inspirations for a career in sports.

“I was born into a sports-loving family. My two brothers used to play football and cricket. I used to play cricket with them. They used to watch matches on TV, and I saw them and fell in love with cricket and football.

“My brothers were my inspiration. They used to win school tournaments and local tournaments and I wanted to do the same. They instilled a love of sports in me, and I chose football because there was not much scope for cricket in the Northeast. The credit for my sports career goes to my brothers,” he revealed.

Lachenpa revealed how he was inspired by former Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn for his impressive performance in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

“Being a goalkeeper was a choice for me. When I saw Oliver Kahn play in the 2006 World Cup, and [footage of] the Champions League final where he saved three penalties, I just loved the aggression he showed on the pitch,” said Lachenpa.