Bengaluru: Three days after turning 21, Macarton Louis Nickson received a belated gift, but he couldn’t have asked for a better one. The Bengaluru footballer earned his maiden call-up to the Indian football team ahead of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier opener against Bangladesh on Tuesday.
“It’s a dream come true, and I am very excited. There is a lot to learn from the seniors in the team. Training and playing alongside them will be a massive learning curve for me,” the talented midfielder told TOI. “The call-up is a confidence booster. As I move forward in my career, I need to work hard and improve on my skills further.”
Although AIFF announced the updated team list on Saturday, Macarton was informed on Friday and the first person he called to share the news was his father, Louis Nickson. “It was quite an emotional moment. Everyone at home is proud that I’ll represent the country. They asked me to do well and stay humble,” the youngster said.
Macarton comes from a family of footballers. His father Nickson, who represented the country in various age categories from the late 80s and early 90s, is a product of the city’s football hotspot Austin Town. “My father is my inspiration and mentor. He is the reason I took up football,” he added. His elder brother Shelton, 29, currently plies his trade for Diamond Harbour in the I-League second division.
Macarton, an alumnus of Bengaluru FC’s youth academy, has shown constant growth over the past few years. He featured for Indian Arrows and FC Bengaluru United, but it was his current stint with NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League that garnered attention. Macarton, who joined the franchise two seasons ago, was part of NEU-FC’s Durand Cup triumph last year. He scored two goals alongside an assist in the ISL this season and played a key role in helping the club reach the Playoffs.
While he’s been through the ISL grind, the demand of international football is not lost on Macarton. The youngster understands he must work on his physique, but he knows to play to his strengths. His skill to win duels backed by his ability to soak in pressure has held him in good stead. While it remains to be seen if he’ll make the cut for Tuesday’s game, he holds promise for the future.