Bala Devi Ngangom striker went into Indian football history when he became the first female player of the South Asian nation to play professionally abroad.
The 30-year-old has signed an 18-month contract with Scotland’s Rangers club. To achieve this breakthrough, Bala went to Scotland for a probationary period in November 1919. At the same time, the striker from Manipuri state in northeastern India is also the first Asian player to play football at Rangers Club. With natural talent and impressive performances on the football field, Bala deserves the position it is today.
Bala shared that this was an extremely special moment for myself as well as Indian women’s football. She confirmed that she will try her best to practice and compete in a new shirt. It can be said that she is one of the most sought after female players in Asia in particular and the world in general.
Apart from that, this player also hopes that she is playing for one of the richest traditional clubs in Europe will be a motivation for the female striker to continue to strive on the road to play professional football.
In India, Bala is known as the best female player and top goalscorer of the national team with 52 goals. Playing professional football from the age of 15, up to this point, she has given herself over 100 goals in 120 appearances. Bala has been awarded the Player of the Year by the Indian Football Federation (2015, 2016).
Bala Devi Ngangom is the captain of the Indian national women’s football team managed by the Indian Football Federation and represents India in international women’s football competitions. In the history, the India team’s first coach was Sushil Bhattacharya, who took charge in 1975. The team won twice as runner-up at the Asian Women’s Football Championship in 1979 (after China Taipei) and 1983 (after Thailand).