22 September,2026 08:54 AM IST | Mumbai | Ronan Carvalho
Yohaan Benjamin during an India U-19 match
[popcorn number="4" desc="No. of games Yohaan Benjamin has played for India U-19" class="Default"]
Mumbai's Yohaan Benjamin, 19, who recently signed for Portugal's fourth-division club Guarda FC, believes it is an important step towards his ultimate goal - representing the Indian senior national team. Benjamin has already played for the India U-19 team that won the SAFF U-19 Championship last year. However, the teenager is not putting himself under any undue pressure.
"I'm not putting too much pressure on myself. My target in my first season with Guarda FC is to just get consistent game time. I'll have to work hard to get that since I'm one of the youngest players in the side and need to get used to the intensity and physicality of the league," Benjamin, a Colaba resident, told mid-day.
The winger's journey to Guarda FC has been a long one. He developed a passion for football at the age of four and started playing for his school, Cathedral and John Connon (Fort), at MSSA's inter-school tournaments until the U-14 level.
"School football helped me enjoy the thrill of playing the game, but club football is obviously at a different level," said Benjamin, who went on to join acclaimed academies Minerva Academy, Football Academy of Bangalore, Conscient Football Mumbai and eventually Shillong Lajong.
Benjamin credits the north-eastern club with preparing him for his leap to European football. "I was there for three years, and that helped prepare me for European football because I was just 15-16, but was playing consistently with the reserve side, who had guys that were much older and stronger than me," he said.
Benjamin was previously part of Slovenia's NK Bravo in 2025, where he played for their U-19 side in the prestigious UEFA Youth League.
"A few months before I joined NK Bravo, I had a two-week trial with them. They told me they liked the way I played and gave me an offer. Playing there was an amazing experience. I learnt different playing styles and training techniques," explained Benjamin.
The youngster's progress has generated excitement among Indian football fans, and he is determined to work towards becoming a senior Blue Tiger.
"If I focus on getting consistent game time with Guarda FC and do well, further opportunities will open up for me with the U-20, U-23 and, one day, hopefully, the senior Indian side. Six to seven years is probably a good timeline [to break into the senior Blue Tigers side]," Benjamin signed off.
