Mumbai, November 14: The Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) has been a visionary movement in harnessing the true potential of youth football in India. Founded in 2015, the residential academy has helped give rise to multiple promising talents that are plying their trade across some of the topmost Indian Super League (ISL) clubs currently.

Mumbai City FC are bearing witness to a prodigious RFYC graduate in Nathan Rodrigues, who has won four tackles, six aerial duels, eight clearances, and 10 interceptions in his five appearances in ISL 2024-25, whilst netting consecutively in the last couple of matches. At 20 years and 281 days old, Rodrigues has become the youngest Mumbai City FC player and the fifth-youngest overall to find the back of the net in successive ISL games.

But not just Nathan, multiple RFYC stars have been making waves in ISL 2024-25. Overall, RFYC graduates have clocked a milestone of 1042 minutes this campaign, recording 11 starts, 13 substitute appearances, and totalling 21 matches thus far. Mohammed Sanan (Jamshedpur FC) , Muhammed Nemil, Yanglem Sanatomba Singh (FC Goa), Thoi Singh (NorthEast United), Franklin Nazareth, Supratim Das (Mumbai City FC) and Narendra Naik (Odisha FC), have each made a brief impact in ISL this season.

“I learnt the importance of working on my own”

However, Nathan’s goals have certainly drawn attention towards him, and he credits a significant part of his footballing development to the years he spent honing his skills at RFYC.

“I have learnt a lot of things at RFYC, but first and foremost – I learnt discipline. It makes you a better player on and off the field. I learnt the importance of working on my own, working extra hard, focusing on my diet, and maintaining my fitness levels. There was a focus on discipline, mindset, and listening to coaches, staff, and working hard. The best thing you can do is work on your weaknesses, which helps you to be good at the top level,” Nathan said.

He added, “I played in the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) and from there I was selected to play for Mumbai City FC. We played the group stages against all the Mumbai teams and did well – getting scouted from there. I had just returned from my injury. I was playing limited minutes and doing well, giving my best, working hard, and took a big step from my career from the U-19 to the senior team. I worked hard, and showed my quality on a professional level.”

Nathan’s friends from RFYC are carving their own impact at other clubs, such as Sanan, who had a breakthrough run last season. Across 27 ISL appearances, he has notched two goals and assists each for Jamshepur FC – and with his goal against Mohun Bagan Super Giant on November 1 2023, Sanan (19 years 210 days) became the second youngest goal-scorer for the Red Miners in the ISL after Aniket Jadhav who did so when he was 19 years 108 days old against HFC on October 29, 2019.

Similarly, with his assist against Mohammedan SC on September 16 2024, Thoi Singh (20 years 135 days) became the second youngest goal provider for NorthEast United FC in the ISL after Parthib Gogoi, who did so when he was 20 years and 25 days old vs Chennaiyin FC on February 24, 2023.

“Sanan is a close friend of mine”

Nathan has kept in touch with his fellow RFYC batchmates, who are representing different clubs now. “Sanan is a close friend of mine. He is everywhere. We message, text each other after games, getting to know our plans for the off-season and all. He praised me after my goals, even Franklin does that. We have a good camaraderie,” the Mumbai City FC youngster remarked.

Whilst Nathan has emerged as a formidable goal-scoring force for the Islanders, he outlined that making goal contributions upfront wasn’t his core objective heading into this season. His aim was to get more valuable minutes under his belt and is appreciative of his teammates for being supportive irrespective of his performances.

“Scoring goals is everyone’s target. But, my target was to play and get some minutes overall. I scored those goals because I was in a good position to do so. It was a good moment for me to do so in back-to-back games. I will score more in the future, and it’s good for me, as well as the whole team. All the players are contributing, giving me words of advice, before matches – encouraging me. While playing also, if I make mistakes, they motivate me, don’t shout at me. That gives me confidence to do my best,” Nathan signed off.