EXCLUSIVE: Chennaiyin FC midfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte opens up on ISL break, leadership role & more | Part 2

Lalrinliana Hnamte is the captain of the Indian U-23 football team

Chennaiyin FC midfielder and Indian U-23 football team captain Lalrinliana Hnamte is slowly but surely ascending the ladder in Indian football. The 22-year-old has already represented the Kolkata giants – East Bengal and Mohun Bagan SG before lacing up his boots for the Marina Machans.

A regular in the Chennaiyin FC ranks, Hnamte’s maturity and calmness at such a young age are his biggest strengths. To add to this, his work rate and vision are becoming better with every passing year, and the player seems to have a bright future ahead of him.

Lalrinliana Hnamte recently sat down for an exclusive interview with Khel Now. Here’s what the young Indian midfielder had to say in Part 2 of the conversation:

How did the ten-month break from football affect the Indian players?

As the Indian Super League was delayed this season, there was a major uncertainty around the future of the Indian players and clubs.

When asked about this, Lalrinliana Hnamte said, “It was really hard for everyone, but I was lucky, to be honest, to play for the national team under-23 most of the time. We had the camp, we played games, but the mind is not there; you really cannot focus on football.”

“Like, after the game, what should I do? It’s every day, it’s really hard for everyone, not for myself, everyone. What I really want to do is to play football. So, the games with the India U-23, gave me the opportunity to play, gave me joy.”

“So, it’s really helped me, my mentality, so I can stay away from those things, because it takes my mind away to do what I love the most, to play football. So, it was a tough moment, but I was lucky enough to get those games for myself, and I developed a lot. I play most of the game, so it really helped me.”

Lalrinliana Hnamte on playing alongside Bemammer and Noguera

Chennaiyin FC significantly bolstered their midfield ahead of the 2025-26 ISL season by bringing in captain Alberto Noguera and the experienced Mohammed Ali Bemammer. When asked about his experience while playing alongside the ISL veterans.

Hnamte said, “They are really good players, and they’re really good human beings. In the training, they call you, and they tell you, like, what to do.”

“It’s really nice to have these kinds of players with you and share the dressing room and play with, alongside you. They keep telling you, What’s your mistake? You should have done this; you should do this instead of that; they keep teaching you. So, really a pleasure and I’m very happy to have these two to share the dressing room.”

“I really learned a lot from them, this past three months, they keep teaching you, and they’re really nice. As a human, as a player, they’re really top, top.”

On his leadership inspiration

Lalrinliana Hnamte has been quite vocal on the field every time he has played for the Marina Machans. When asked how he picked up the confidence and the leadership qualities.

The midfielder said, “It’s just me being me from a young age when I started playing. I will always like this, I’m the most vocal guy in the team, even though I’m not the captain.”

“Because as a midfielder, you have to talk a lot because you see the game, you have to awaken the players around you. So, it’s easier. I like it when someone speaks to me from behind, because it makes me focus more. So, I like it. I think I should help the team as well, it’s just part of my game.”

Experience captaining the Indian U-23 football team

The Chennaiyin FC midfielder is a regular in the Indian U-23 side and recently captained them as well.

When asked about his experience of donning the Indian Blue, Hnamte said, “First of all, I want to thank Naushad Moosa coach, for giving me the armband. I really want to thank him.”

“We are a really good team, to be honest. We are like the young guys who are hungry to prove ourselves at the national level. Most of us want to prove I can do this. My dream is to play for the country. I never dreamed about being a captain, as a captain was beyond my dream; I just wanted to play for my country. When they announced me as a captain, I was surprised, and I was really happy and motivated to lead this group.”

“It is one of the best under-23 India ever, maybe let’s say one of the best, if not the best. Most of them are amazing players; you can see in every ISL club that most of them are doing well. So, to lead that team is a really good experience and achievement.”

“My dream is to play as a regular player in the national senior team. But let’s see, hopefully in the future, I hope I can do it. My dream is to play maximum games for the senior team.”

Message for the Chennaiyin FC supporters

When asked if he had any words for the Chennaiyin FC fans, Hnamte said, “Although results didn’t go in our favour, there were five consecutive home games where they turned up and supported the team. First of all, thank you for always supporting us. When the team is losing, it’s very hard as a fan. It’s really hard to show up in the stands and cheer us on, but they always did.”

“This is what we need the most when the team is not good. Please keep supporting us. Please come show up in the stands, please support, and hopefully we do well and win some this. We still have games left. Hopefully we win all the games, and we will try to make you happier than before. We’ll try our best. Please keep supporting us.”

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