By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, June 9: With less than a week to go before the highly-anticipated kick-off, the Shillong Premier League (SPL) 2021-22 was officially launched on Thursday, with the trophy and SPL logo unveiled and an introduction of the captains of the eight participating teams.
The SPL, which was not held in 2020 and 2021 owing to COVID-19, will commence on June 15 with Nangkiew Irat SC and Mawlai SC squaring-off. With the JN Stadium undergoing reconstruction and work in progress to lay an artificial pitch at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, all matches of the first leg will be held at the MFA Turf, Third Ground, Polo and kick-off will be at 4 pm.
The trophy for the 11th season of the SPL was unveiled today in the presence of senior Shillong Sports Association (SSA) officials, the captains, team coaches, and referees in the conference hall of the SSA Stadium.
The new SPL logo was unveiled by the chairman of the Tournament Committee, Robert Dkhar, while SSA President, Eugeneson Lyngdoh launched the promo to the season, which also acted as the launch of the league.
This season, the Shillong Sports Association will livestream the games via local media outlet T7. Also attending the programme were several state footballers who competed in the I-League and Indian Super League, including Aiban Dohling, Phrangki Buam, Shaiborlang Kharpan, Kynsailang Khongsit, Denzil Kharshandi and Rupert Nongrum, all of whom got their starts in the SPL. Two other youngsters who have gone on to play for the Indian national youth teams, Halen Nongtdu and Ricky John Shabong, were also present on the occasion.
SSA President Eugeneson Lyngdoh had also played in the SPL as a youth before his football career took him to the heights of the I-League, Indian Super League and Indian national senior team.
In his speech he said that the live telecast of the games will be “a first of its kind for the SPL. Football has changed and will forever keep changing, so as an association it is important that we too keep progressing.”
As a former player, he thanked the SSA for the work it has done in pushing football forwards in Shillong and farther afield, saying that approximately 2,000 players register with the association every year for its seven different football tournaments.
“When I was 8 years old, I came to watch my father play on this ground. At 18, I came to play here myself and now at 35, I am an official in the SSA. It is important for the fans to be engaged with the sport and livestreaming is a step in the right direction. From the livestream, SPL players can get scouted by clubs from outside and even reach the national team level. If we do not keep this ladder alive, then football will die in our state,” he added.
Four-time winners Shillong Lajong FC are the defending champions but the two-year hiatus means that the Shillong Premier League 2021-22 season is wide open. 2019 runners-up Rangdajied United FC, two-time winners Langsning FC, Ryntih SC and Nangkiew Irat SC all return from the previous season, while Malki SC are back in the top tier for the first time since 2018. Also taking part are Mawkhar SC and Mawlai SC.