The bro code

On the field, footballers Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Singh and Akash Mishra are winning matches, setting records. Off field, they're tackling egos, sharing fitness hacks and keeping each other sane. Have teamwork goals ever looked so good? Take a look

- Urvee Modwel

At the Indian Super League in May, Mumbai City FC were leading until the last day of the league stage.

The football team needed either a draw or win against Mohun Bagan Super Giant. They lost, but at the playoffs, nine days later, they beat FC Goa. All eyes were on right-winger Lallianzuala Chhangte, who scored three goals. His teammate, forward Vikram Partap Singh, scored one goal and assisted on another.

The men were fighting to retain their top spot. In the 2022-23 Indian Super League, Mumbai had an 18-game unbeaten streak, the longest in the history of the ISL. The finals brought them full circle, playing against Mohun Bagan SG again. This time, Chhangte scored a crucial goal, helping Mumbai City FC win 3-1 and pick up the 2022-23 Indian Super League cup for the second year in a row.

Chhangte, with 10 goals and six assists though the tournament, was also named the Hero of the League. He’s only 27. He plays for bothMumbai FC and the India national team. He’s so fast on the field, fans call him theMizo Flash. But to teammates and friends he’s Zuala. Singh, meanwhile, is 22, and fromChandigarh. His standout moment at the club came inMarch, when he scored a hat-trick against NorthEast United FC, becoming the second-youngest ISL player to do this. Their teammate, Akash Mishra, 23, is a left-back. Unfortunately, he was injured early in the play-offs and was off the field. But he was there cheering them on.

The three footballers have had an eventful year already. And they’ve learnt new lessons on the field. Of course, talent, strategy, and dedication matter. But for wins that go above and beyond, being in tune with the team matters just as much – and it doesn’t come easy. The players talk about brotherhood and belonging as they prepare for the upcoming ISL season, which begins on September 13.

Warming up