SHILLONG: Langsning FC signed 21 players in the Shillong Sports Association transfer window, including some big names of the local football scene, as the club try to regain some of their past aura.
A total of 240 players are on the transfer list for the coming season, full details of which are available at the SSA office or on the Association’s official website: www.shillongsa.com.
Langsning finished fourth in last season’s Shillong Premier League and did not attempt a run at a place in the I-League, pulling out of the Second Division I-League to focus on rebuilding the team.
At the time, the management had said that they were going to build on the U-19 team and concentrate on developing local talent.
According to the official SSA list of transfers received on Tuesday, 18 players from Langsning have left for other teams, including four to Royal Wahingdoh FC.
However, of more interest are the players they have taken on.
Five of them have come from the very successful Malki SC team that finished runners-up last season in the SPL.
Among them are Samson Nongrum, Maitshaphrang Kharumnuid and Timmy Ryngkhlem, who made a big impact in the club’s stellar performance in 2013, something Langsning will hope they can recreate this year.
Among the other teams’ signings, Shillong United FC have taken on 13 players, all of whom played for RWFC.
The Royals, for their part, have signed 10, including the big seven reported a few days ago, such as Loveday Okechukwu, Nagen Tamang and Marlangki Suting.
The latter was also from Malki, which means that the SPL finalists will be without at least half a dozen of their key players from last year.
Shillong Lajong FC were rather inactive, only taking on five players, while losing three.
Their standout signing is Mebankhraw K Wahlang, who was part of the OM Roy Memorial HSS team that won the Subroto Cup last season.
Lajong, in recent years, have fielded a junior team in local competitions and will play in the SPL after finishing second in the First Division last season.
The team they lost to in the final, Boys Sports Company, made two signings.
Second Division champions Laitumkhrah SC and runners-up Laban SC have also made limited signings as they bid for a good performance in the First Division this year.
Mawkhar SC, who lifted the Third Division trophy, made 10 signings, while another four players left the club. Assam Regimental Centre, who came second, picked up four players from Boys Sports Company.
Nangkiew Irat SC, fifth place finishers in the SPL, added only one player to their squad in the transfer window, while releasing another nine.
