Dinliana looks to keep the good things going in Jamshedpur FC backline

The full-back is one of the players who played a crucial role in the last season

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Aug 28: Defender Laldinliana Renthlei has pulled up his socks to once again keep the Jamshedpur FC backline rock solid.

The 23-year-old Mizoram-born Dinliana is one of the players who played a crucial role under Owen Coyle in last season’s terrific conquest. The Men of Steel made history when they topped the table last season winning the Indian Super League Shield for the very first time. 

The quick-footed youngster is keen to keep the good work going in the ensuing ISL and his role would be pivotal in keeping the potential forays in the Jamshedpur defence at bay. That he loves to don JFC jerseys for the second time would perhaps be an understatement.

Dinliana opined: “It was a completely new emotion as it was the first time I had won the ISL Shield”, when asked about his feelings after being the “Champions of India”.

“Although I played in the Super Cup final and the ISL final when I was Chennaiyin FC, this trophy is the peak of my career till now,” he added.

Dinliana played almost all matches under former gaffer Owen Coyle. And his performance even impressed the Indian National Team Manager earning him his maiden national camp call. But he missed it due to his injury.

Quizzed on this, a confident Dinliana said: “It definitely gave me motivation when the national team head coach wanted to call me up. But due to injury, I couldn’t make it to the camp. But this season, I’ll work harder and try again to get into the national team.”

Speaking on his journey so far Dinliana shared his expectations and his dreams ahead: “When I was in the hostel, I dreamt of playing at the Lamual open ground someday. That dream came true soon. Then when I was playing in the Mizoram Premier League, I was dreaming of playing in the ISL at some point in time”.

He further said: “Like that, things keep moving and it motivates me. Now my dream is to play for the Indian national team.”

The full-back will have the company of the likes of Ricky Lallawmawma, Muhammed Uvais Moyikkal, Sandip Mandi, Laldinpuia Pachuau, Eli Sabia Filho, Pratik Prabhakar Chaudhari and Peter William Hartley in tnhe defence.

Dinliana was initially an inconsequential part of the Chennaiyin FC squad when he initially joined in 2018 under gaffer John Gregory. However, once Coyle took charge of the Marina Machans, Dinliana almost immediately started moving up the pecking order. He soon became invaluable to the Scot’s more direct style of play and went on to earn a runners-up medal with the Chennai-based club.

When Coyle moved to fellow ISL club Jamshedpur FC in the summer of 2020, Dinliana tagged along as a faithful apprentice. While the first year at Jamshedpur wasn’t necessarily successful, the Red Miners were inching closer towards creating a historic run.

As the 2021-22 season kicked off, Jamshedpur FC scripted a fairytale run, dismantling defenses and creating memorable victories against heavyweights like ATK Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters, eventual champions Hyderabad FC, and Dinliana’s former team Chennaiyin FC. The Men of Steel sealed the ISL Shield on the final day of the league with a 1-0 victory over the Mariners.