Sports
NorthEast United: Benali says Parthib Gogoi can be among India's best
The Assam forward has reached 100 appearances for the club; his coach sees himself as a 'second father' and says two or three more years of growth could take him to the top.
By PB Kashyap · Correspondent · Published · Updated · 2 min read
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NorthEast United FC head coach Juan Pedro Benali has said Parthib Gogoi can become one of India's best footballers, as the Assam forward marked 100 appearances for the club, The News Mill reported on Thursday, October 22.
Coach's assessment
Speaking at the press conference before the away game against Odisha FC, Benali said Parthib had progressed a lot and did not need to prove himself to anyone. He described him as one of the best people he had met.
Benali noted that Parthib, despite several seasons at the club, is still young. "He's still young and he's allowed to make mistakes," the coach said. He praised his versatility, having used him as a striker and on the wing, and his commitment in training.
Benali said another two or three years of development could see Parthib emerge as one of India's best players.
A father figure
Parthib said reaching 100 games meant a lot to him. "I'm very happy. This is my club. I love this club," he said.
He described Benali as "like a father figure", saying the coach was always there to guide him, including with problems beyond football. Benali said he saw himself as something of a second father after years of working closely with the player.
The coach recalled asking Parthib in his early days to write down his mistakes after every game. Parthib had faced criticism in earlier seasons, which Benali said had helped him mature. Asked what had not changed, Benali said: "Still a nice guy."
Minutes and competition
Parthib is not guaranteed regular minutes and played only a few minutes in the club's previous match, which Benali acknowledged could be frustrating. The coach praised his team-first attitude.
Parthib said competition in the squad would push him. "If I play two minutes, 30 minutes, 90 minutes, I want to give my 100%. It's for the team. It's not for myself," he said.
Earlier praise
Club co-owner John Abraham named Parthib among his favourite footballers at the jersey launch in Mumbai in September 2026, and had praised his attacking ability in 2024. Parthib himself said in an August 2024 interview that he wanted to become one of India's best footballers within five years.
NorthEast United went on to draw 0-0 with Odisha FC in Bhubaneswar on October 24.
Sources and credits. With inputs from The News Mill. https://thenewsmill.com/2026/10/parthib-gogoi-can-become-one-of-indias-best-players-benali/
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