His performances for the side from north India have made heads turn but it was in a small village named Purum Chumbang in the Chandel district of Manipur that his footballing journey began.
“I began playing football when I was 10 years old,” Chothe recounted. “Football is quite popular in my village but I am the first player from my area to become a professional.”
Hailing from a family of farmers, means were limited for him and at 15 years of age, he took a leap of faith to push himself towards his dream. “I wanted to be a football player, but we had financial problems, which made it very difficult. However, thanks to my uncle, I got the chance to play for a team in Siliguri and I wanted to make the most of it,” he said.
A year later, he was signed by the erstwhile Minerva Punjab FC after a successful trial and the move paid rich dividends for both parties very quickly. Chothe led them to the 2018-19 Hero Elite League crown, where they defeated FC Pune City in the final and it was Chothe who scored the first goal in a 2-0 win, while also ending as the team’s top scorer in the competition with eight goals.
“It feels great being a part of this team. My coach played me in a match against the senior team for 70 minutes and liked my game. Then, I started training with the seniors and it’s been really amazing so far – getting to learn so much and improving every day,” Chothe, a self-confessed fan of Real Madrid and Cristiano Ronaldo, gushed.
He made five appearances for his team in the AFC Cup last season and has already surpassed his I-League appearance tally as compared to the previous campaign, which has also seen him score his debut senior-level goal with a cracking individual effort in a 3-3 draw away at Aizawl FC.
“It feels great to play in the I-League and I am thankful to my coaches for giving me this opportunity. I have learnt a lot by playing against some of the top teams and players in India, such as decision-making, improving my passing and being comfortable with the ball,” he explained.
The Punjab FC’s roster boasts of a number of vastly-experienced players such as Sanju Pradhan, Anwar Ali, Nirmal Chettri and Cavin Lobo – all the players who have represented the senior national team and played at the highest level domestically. Chothe mentioned that it is a ‘privilege’ to play alongside these players and that he hopes to play for India one day as well.
“To play alongside such seniors is a privilege as well as a massive learning opportunity. The most important thing one can learn from them is their levels of discipline and how they keep themselves fit. Hopefully, I can emulate them and play for India one day,” he signed off.