Nikhil Mali
Nikhil Mali (born 11 November 1996) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Delhi FC in the I-League 2. He was part of the Delhi FC side which won the inaugural Futsal Club Championship in 2021 in which he was also named Most Valuable Player, having scored 24 goals in 5 matches.[1]
Club Career
Born in Nigeria to Indian parents, Mali caught the eye playing in local 5-a-side tournaments and signed for Pune club Parshuramians SC in the city’s second division. After impressing, he joined Pune top division side Greenbox Chetak SC before being snapped by erstwhile I-League side DSK Shivajians for whom he played in the U-18 I-League. After DSK Shivajians ceased operations, Mali had a successful trial with Minerva Academy F.C. who brought him into the first team after a short spell with sister club Techtro Swades United.[2]
Delhi FC
In 2020, owner Ranjit Bajaj sold Minerva Punjab to RoundGlass Punjab FC and bought a majority stake in Delhi FC.[3] The club participated in the 2021 Durand Cup where Mali played an important role in their run to the quarter-finals, scoring in the 1-5 defeat to Indian Super League team FC Goa.[4]
Hero I-League 2nd Division
Having been nominated by their State Association (Football Delhi), Delhi FC were one of 10 teams to compete in the 2021 Hero I-League Qualifiers in October 2021.[5] Mali was part of the Delhi FC team which was placed in Group B alongside Mumbai Kenkre FC, Corbett FC, ARA FC and Kerala United FC. He appeared in every game and provided 3 assists as Delhi FC topped their group to advance to the final round. However, they finished third and failed to qualify for the Hero I-League.
Futsal Club Championship
Delhi FC were one of 16 teams placed in 4 groups to take part in the inaugural Hero Futsal Club Championship in November 2021, placed in Group C alongside Niaw Wasa FC, Telongjem FC and TRAU FC.[6] Mali scored 15 goals in the Group Stage helping Delhi FC qualify for the semifinals where they defeated Mangala Club 12-7 with Mali scoring 4. In the final, Mali scored 5 more as Delhi FC defeated Mohammedan SC 7-2 to be crowned champions with the Pune lad named Most Valuable Player.[7]
Aizawl FC
Having helped Delhi FC win the Delhi Premier League, Mali was loaned to Aizawl FC for the 2021-22 Hero I-League season.[8]
References
- ↑ Dias, Shayne. "Nikhil Mali - The undisputed star of the Futsal Club Championship". Sportslumo. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ↑ Apte, Tanay. "What's going wrong with Pune's football culture?". The Away End. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ↑ Quadri, Abreshmina Sayeed. "Minerva Academy Owns 90 Per Cent Stake in Delhi FC: Details of the Takeover". News18. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
- ↑ Apte, Tanay. "Durand Cup 2021: FC Goa thrash Delhi FC 5-1 to enter semifinals". Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ↑ TNN. "12 teams fulfil criteria, 10 get nod for I-League Qualifiers". Times of India. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ↑ Bangde, Arjun. "Fast, exciting and technical – welcome to Hero Futsal Club Championship". Football Counter. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
- ↑ Dias, Shayne. "Nikhil Mali - The undisputed star of the Futsal Club Championship". Sportslumo. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ↑ Apte, Tanay. "Want to set an example for young players from Pune, says Aizawl FC new boy Nikhil Mali". Hero I-League. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
External links
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