Jeje Lalpekhlua is having a dream season. The 25-year-old Mizoram striker has been on the target on regular basis for his I-League team Mohun Bagan, ISL club Chennaiyin FC, and India. His consistency and form have made Jeje one of the most sought strikers in India.
Jeje and Chhetri scored against Afghanistan in the Saff Suzuki Cup 2-1 title win earlier this year. Recently he was adjudged Best Indian Player at the FPAI Annual Indian Awards recently in Mumbai. Earlier he had won the best emerging player award in FPAI and ISL.
“I thank God for it. I am enjoying my current run. I have worked hard and luck has also played its part. Since June 2015 I have scored 23 goals in 46 appearances. I will hope to continue that,” Jeje said on phone ahead of their Federation Cup away fixture clash against Salgaocar FC. He scored a brace in the home fixture against the Goan side to give his side a 3-2 advantage.
“After missing the I-League, we will try our best to win the Federation Cup for our fans. We have qualified for the last 16 of the AFC Cup and would like do well also there,” he said.
Jeje attributed a number of factors including the hectic schedule and a ban to coach Sanjoy Sen on missing out on the I-League title despite having it covered for the bulk of the season.
“The schedule was bit difficult for us, as we were playing the I-League and AFC Cup together. Also, conceding the late goal against Shillong Lajong proved very costly. But, this can happen in football and we have to be prepared for it. Luck was not on our side and in spite of playing good football and topping the table for most part of the tournament, we failed to win the I-League.
“It was a difficult situation towards the end. If he (Sen) was there (in the dug out), maybe we could have done better,” said Jeje who was part of the winning Mohun Bagan I-League team last season (2014-15) and won ISL-2 (2015) with Chennaiyin FC besides the Saff Cup with India. He has worn the India senior team’s armband also after leading the junior Indian team.
But things were not all rosy for the striker who started his professional as a teenager with Pune FC in 2007. Injuries held him back until his resurgence in the ISL’s first season where he scored four goals — the most by an Indian. He hasn’t looked back since.
