In a piece of welcome news, young striker Manisha Kalyan has become the first Indian footballer to play at the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The 20-year-old made her debut for Apollon Ladies FC in the European Club competition in Engomi, Cyprus. Manisha replaced Cyprus’ Marilena Georgiou in the 60th minute at the Makareao Stadium. Apollon Ladies FC beat Latvian top flight club SFK Riga 3-0 in their UWCL opener.
Manisha is the fourth Indian women’s international footballer to sign for an overseas club. This young talent has done well for the national team and Gokulam Kerala in the Indian Women’s League (IWL). The young talent won the AIFF Women’s Footballer of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
Manisha also scored a goal against former World Cup runners-up Brazil during an international friendly. Interestingly, Manisha is the second player from Gokulam Kerala to sign for an overseas club. This was after Dangmei Grace joined Uzbekistan outfit FC Nasaf.
The Indian football team congratulated her for making the country proud. The tweet read, “We congratulate #BlueTigresses, who made her UEFA Women’s Champions League debut with Appollon Ladies FC against SFK Riga in the qualifiers last night. Many more steps to go”.
Manisha Kalyan had a remarkable run in the 2019-20 season of the Indian Women’s League, which earned her a way into the national camp. The winger played for Gokulam Kerala FC and won the emerging player of the tournament, leading her side to its first Indian women league (IWL) title. Manisha is the second player from the Women’s team of Gokulam Kerala to play in an overseas club.
