Scouting Report: Who is Rajasthan United's new prospect Gyamar Nikum?

The youngster scored two goals against two ISL heavyweights.

Gyamar Nikum has exploded onto the football scene due to his recent performances for Rajasthan United in the Durand Cup 2022. The 17-year-old hails from Arunachal Pradesh and is a hot prospect for the future. A former representative of Arunachal Pradesh’s U-15 sub-junior team in the national championships, the winger has a lot of qualities and potential. Notably, he is also the first ever player from the state to play in the topflight of Indian football.

Scoring goals against Indian football heavyweights ATK Mohun Bagan and Mumbai City has made people take note of him. However, Gyamar Nikum was showing signs of brilliance way before scoring against these giants. He was a key player for Rajasthan United in the I-League qualifiers and the 2021-22 I-League. Deservedly, he also got a call-up for the India U-20 national training camp in June, 2022.

With his popularity increasing by the day, people are finally noticing the depth of talent in the nimble youngster. Here is a scouting report on Gyamar Nikum as he gets ready to leave a mark on Indian football.

Scouting Report

Age: 17

Date of Birth: 26 October 2004

Position: Midfielder

Height: 1.67m

Senior Debut

Gyamar Nikum made his debut for Rajasthan United in the I-League Qualifiers on 20 October, 2021, at the age of 16 years and 359 days. He became one of the youngest players from Arunachal Pradesh to play in the competition when he appeared against Madan Maharaj. In his own words, the midfielder came to Rajasthan United as part of the academy but the club hierarchy saw potential and introduced him to the senior team.

The youngster went on to play 14 matches in the I-League 2021-22 season. It was an impressive campaign for the league debutants where they finished seventh in the championship phase and took sixth place overall in the table. The club promptly gave Nikum a contract extension which runs until 2026. 

Positives

Gyamar Nikum has a myriad of qualities and a lot of untapped potential. He is an exceptional winger with quickness and sensational dribbling skills. The right-sided midfielder has exquisite control of the ball and the confidence to take on defenders. Furthermore, he can also cause trouble to opposition defenders with his pace and movement.

The 17-year-old’s winner in an iconic 3-2 win over ATK Mohun Bagan was an indicator of his positional awareness and finishing skills. Scoring a winner at the stroke of 90+5 minutes of the game also took a lot of composure. In the fixture against Mumbai City, Nikum was incredible in his movement and finishing with his left foot, curling the ball towards the far post from the edge of the penalty box. The ability to cut inside from the wing makes him a dangerous prospect.

Aspects to improve

As with every young player, Gyamar Nikum also has areas where he can improve. While he has raw pace and good positional awareness, the midfielder needs to polish his build-up play. A little more composure while in possession of the ball will certainly bring his overall gameplay in a better light. 

Another area where Gyamar can certainly improve is his application when the team is out of possession. Tracking back and aiding the defence is one of the prerequisites of any modern winger. It remains to be seen how he performs under different tactical setups and adapts to different positions in the formation as well. 

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Future

To put it in simple words, the future is bright for Gyamar Nikum. He has tons of potential and the right guidance can take him far. It is imperative for the youngster to get regular game time in order to gain proper exposure and experience. 

Playing in the I-League last year was key for the winger and he should be a regular starter in the upcoming season for Rajasthan United. His goal-scoring touch in the Durand Cup 2022 suggests that the winger can also play as a forward if need be. A utility like this will definitely make him an asset to every team.

It will be no surprise to find Gyamar Nikum on the radar of the Indian Super League clubs in the near future. He could also become a regular for the Indian national team in the age-restricted category if his developmental graph continues to rise.