Aibanbha Dohling

Aibanbha Dohling

Personal information
Full name	Aibanbha Kupar Dohling
Date of birth	(1996-03-23) 23 March 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Sohra, Meghalaya, India
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Left back, Centre back
Team information
Current team	Kerala Blasters
Number	27
Youth career
	Shillong Lajong
2011–2015	Tata FA
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2019	Shillong Lajong	25	(1)
2019–2023	Goa	44	(2)
2023–	Kerala Blasters	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13:30, 8 October 2023 (UTC)

Aibanbha Kupar Dohling (born 23 March 1996) commonly known as Aiban, is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a defender for Indian Super League club Kerala Blasters.

Club career

Early career

Born in Sohra, Meghalaya, Aiban started his career in the youth ranks of Shillong Lajong. He was a part of the under-15 side that qualified for the final rounds of the Manchester United Premier Cup in 2010. ^[1] Aiban then moved to the Tata Football Academy in 2011. ^[2] While with Tata FA, Aiban played for the academy in various tournaments, including the I-League U19. He also represented Jharkhand in the Santosh Trophy. ^[1]

After impressing for Tata against Bengaluru FC's under-19 side in the under-19 league, Aiban was offered a trial with the I-League club. ^[1]

Shillong Lajong

On 4 January 2016, it was announced that Aiban returned to his former club, Shillong Lajong, before the I-League season. ^[2] He made his professional debut for the club on 17 February 2016 against Mohun Bagan. He came on as an 83rd-minute substitute as Shillong Lajong drew the match 1–1. ^[3] In the seasons that followed, Aiban became an essential part of Lajong's system and was also appointed the club's second captain ahead of the I-League 2018-19 season. He made 19 appearances for the club that season. ^[4]

FC Goa

On 26 July 2019, Indian Super League club FC Goa confirmed the signing of Aiban, after a successful season with Shillong Lajong. He only made one appearance in the Indian Super League during the 2019–20 season, which limited his game time. Aiban then would go on to make further appearances in the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons. Aiban also won the 2019–20 Indian Super League Premiers and the 2021 Durand Cup with the club. He totally made 44 league appearances for the club across four seasons, scoring two goals besides having numerous assists. ^[5]

Kerala Blasters

On 29 August 2023, Kerala Blasters announced the signing of Aiban on a three-year deal with an option to extend one more year. ^[6] The Blasters reportedly paid FC Goa a reported fee of ₹1.45 crores for the transfer of Aiban, making it the most expensive signing in its history. ^[7] He made his debut for the club on 21 September, in the season opener against Bengaluru FC at home, which the Blasters won 2–1. ^[8] In the first away game of the season against Mumbai City on 8 October, Aiban was substituted in the 41st minute of the match after suffering an injury. On 11 October, the Blasters announced that the injury is expected to keep him out for the rest of the season. ^[9]

Aiban would make his return to the pitch in the next season for the club's first competitive match of season in the 2024 Durand Cup match against Mumbai City FC on 1 August, which the Blasters won with a record-breaking score of 8–0. ^[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches finished till 6 August 2024 ^[11]

Club	Season	League			Cup		AFC		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Shillong Lajong	2015–16	I-League	1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
	2016–17	I-League	5	1	0	0	–		–		5	1
	2017–18	I-League	19	0	0	0	–		–		19	0
	Total		25	1	0	0	–				25	1
Goa	2019–20	Indian Super League	1	0	0	0	–		–		1	0
	2020–21	Indian Super League	8	0	0	0	1 [lower-alpha 1]	0	–		9	0
	2021–22	Indian Super League	16	1	0	0	–		6 [lower-alpha 2]	0	22	1
	2022–23	Indian Super League	19	1	2	0	–				19	1
	2023	Indian Super League	0	0	0	0	–		2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	2	0
	Total		44	2	2	0	1	0	8	0	53	2
Kerala Blasters	2023–24	Indian Super League	3	0	0	0	–		0	0	3	0
	2024–25	Indian Super League	0	0	0	0	–		2	0	2	0
Career total			72	3	2	0	1	0	10	0	83	3

1. Appearances in the AFC Champions League
2. Appearances in the Durand Cup

Honours

Goa

• Indian Super League Premiers: 2019–20
• Durand Cup: 2021 ^[12]

References

1. Bera, Kaustav (30 July 2015). "Promising youngster 'Aiban' Dohling on trial at Bengaluru FC". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 2 August 2015. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
2. "Lajong Signs Nevin Paul, Konsham Chinglensana, Milan Basumatary". I-League.org. 4 January 2016. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
3. "Mohun Bagan 1-1 Shillong Lajong". Soccerway.
4. Nehal (27 July 2019). "FC Goa sign Shillong Lajong defender Aibanbha Dohling". The Away End. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
5. "Kerala Blasters sign defender Aibanbha Dohling". Khel Now. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
6. "Kerala Blasters FC rope in defender Aibanbha Dohling on three-year contract". Indian Super League. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
7. "Aibanbha moves from Goa to Kerala". The Times of India. 29 August 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 30 August 2023.
8. "Kerala Blasters beat Bengaluru FC 2-1 in ISL opener". The Week. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
9. "More troubles for Blasters, left-back Dohling to miss the rest of the season". The Times of India. 10 October 2023. ISSN   0971-8257 . Retrieved 11 October 2023.
10. Sportstar, Team (1 August 2024). "Mumbai City vs Kerala Blasters highlights, Durand Cup 2024: MCFC 0-8 KBFC; Noah, Peprah score hattricks in Blasters' biggest win ever". Sportstar. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
11. Aibanbha Dohling at Soccerway
12. "FC Goa clinch maiden Durand Cup trophy after beating Mohammedan Sporting 1–0 in final". ESPN. 3 October 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.