Two young Indian footballers have taken an unconventional yet significant step in their careers, as Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) graduates Zehal Shibu and Fanai Vanlalchhanchhua have completed permanent moves to Tokyo 23 FC, a club competing in th sixth tier of Japan’s football system.
While that may appear modest on paper, those familiar with Asian football structures insist that the competitive ecosystem in Japan offers a far more demanding weekly environment than most domestic options currently available to Indian players.
Both players have signed contracts until December 31, 2026, with the possibility of extension based on performance. In addition, as part of Japan’s work and residency regulations, the duo have enrolled in structured Japanese language courses, which will continue until March 2027 — a commitment that reflects the seriousness of the move, both on and off the pitch.
A pathway shaped by patience and risk
Zehal and Fanai are products of the Reliance Foundation Young Champs Football Academy, a fully residential programme run by Reliance Foundation Sports, where players are scouted nationally and trained intensively from the ages of 12 to 18.
Speaking about their journey, Robert Roelofsen, Head of Youth at RFYC, highlighted how different the two players’ development trajectories were and why Japan made sense for both.
“Zehal was always playing one or even two age groups higher,” Roelofsen said. “Over many years, he showed something special, especially as a left-footer. After the trial, he chose the difficult pathway — not the easy one.”
Fanai’s growth, according to Roelofsen, was more gradual but equally compelling.
“He made step-by-step progress, especially tactically — reading the rhythm of the game — and mentally he is very unflustered. He had several opportunities to stay in India, but he wanted to go the hard way, to a foreign country, where you really have to be triggered every day to become better.”
Why Japan’s lower tiers still matter
Roelofsen was quick to dismiss the assumption that a sixth-tier club implies a low standard.
“It sounds like the sixth level, but in a city of nearly 40 million people, the competition is strong,” he explained. “The biggest difference between Indian and Japanese football is that every game there is challenging. Every weekend you must perform; every day you must train at your best.”
He also pointed to environmental factors that aid development, from climate conditions to year-round structured competition — something Indian footballers rarely experience at youth level.
More than football: language, discipline and accountability
Perhaps the most telling aspect of the move has been the players’ off-field commitment. Before heading to Japan, both completed nearly 150 hours of language study without hesitation.
“That’s the biggest compliment for these boys,” Roelofsen said. “They never questioned it. No excuses. It says everything about their mentality, which you need if you want to survive and grow abroad.”
Voices from the players
For Zehal Shibu, the move carries emotional weight beyond football.
“Once, I was just a young boy in India chasing a ball,” he said in his first statement after signing. “Now I have the opportunity to play in a Japanese stadium. I want to become a player who can inspire dreams for football-loving children in India.”
Fanai, who left his home in Mizoram at the age of 12 to train in Mumbai, echoed similar sentiments. “I have realised my dream of playing football in Japan,” he said. “I will continue to work hard to inspire children in India, especially in Mizoram.”
A wider vision for Indian youth football
Tokyo 23 FC, based in Edogawa Ward — home to over 8,000 Indian residents — has positioned the signings as part of a broader push towards internationalisation and multicultural integration. The club views football as a bridge between communities, particularly given Edogawa’s growing ties with India through economic and cultural partnerships.
For RFYC, the move fits into a longer-term philosophy. The academy has already sent players to Japan, the USA, Thailand, Malaysia and Europe, with some combining football and education through scholarships.
“What matters,” Roelofsen said, “is that these boys open doors. Once one pathway works, others will follow. Then Japan starts looking at India seriously, and that’s where real change begins.”
For Zehal and Fanai, the challenge now begins far from home, in a football culture that demands consistency, discipline and accountability.
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