SHILLONG: Without the support of the fans, Shillong Lajong FC would find it very hard to carry on as a viable club, Larsing Ming Sawyan, who is managing director of SLFC, said on Friday.
Sawyan said this at an informal gathering with reporters in the city where he spoke on a wide range of topics.
The fans are as important as the players, with Sawyan describing the latter as pilots of a plane, with the fans (the Lajong Faithfuls, as the team calls them) the aircraft’s fuel.
Speaking of the current season, where Lajong are in fourth place at the mid-season break, Sawyan expressed his happiness with the way the squad has performed overall, especially the way individuals have stepped up to deliver at crucial moments.
The Reds are also in the process of signing several youth players who have come through the club’s academy, with the names to be finalised soon.
Sawyan also spoke about football’s development in India as a whole.
He is an All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice-president and when asked whether the governing body has plans to develop the sport in the North East, Sawyan replied affirmatively.
“The AIFF has a large plan centred around grassroots and youth football in the country,” he said.
“Hosting the U-17 FIFA World Cup will spur the development of infrastructure and there will be huge gains out of the development programme for building the U-17 team.”
Asked about football in the region, especially the powerhouses of the North East – Manipur and Mizoram – Sawyan said that both states have strong football cultures.
“Sport is part of the basic DNA in Manipur,” the AIFF vice-president said.
“But the best grassroots development programme in India is in Mizoram,” he added, referring to the AIFF’s recent recognition of the progress made there.
Meghalaya football will soon catch up with these states, he said, however, as the state is undergoing a process of reinvigoration.
“The players today have the backing of reasonably good infrastructure and the mentality and attitude of the youth footballers is changing for the better,” he said positively.
