By Monojit Mandal
As the 2023-24 I-League season approaches, Shillong Lajong FC, one of Northeast India’s most iconic football clubs, is gearing up for an exciting journey. In an exclusive interview with The Shillong Times, Larsing Ming Sawyan, owner of Shillong Lajong FC, shared the club’s vision, preparations, and challenges for the upcoming season, shedding light on their aspirations and commitment to Indian football development.
Shillong Lajong FC has set ambitious goals for the 2023-24 I-League season. While the immediate objective is to compete fiercely in this year’s edition, the club’s long-term vision extends beyond the league. “Our long-term objectives are to make an attempt at structuring a sustained participation of Shillong Lajong FC in the country’s national league,” said Sawyan. The establishment of an international-class, state-of-the-art academy is a cornerstone of this vision, showcasing the club’s commitment to nurturing football talent.
Lajong’s preparations for the season include reinforcing their squad. In addition to retaining core players from their youth academy, they have welcomed back several youth products, including Kenstar, Niithovillie, Allan, and Kynsai. The club has also added talented local players, such as Figo, Rooney, and others who excelled in the Shillong Premier League. To complete their roster, Shillong Lajong FC has signed four foreign players, including a striker from Senegal, a holding midfielder, and a center-back from Brazil, and a winger-cum-striker from Japan.
Shillong Lajong FC is poised to leverage its commitment to youth development by continuing to build on its successful academy program. Further details regarding strategic signings and youth development efforts are expected to be announced soon, ensuring a strong foundation for the club’s future success.
For the first time in history, Shillong Lajong FC will play its I-League home matches at the Shillong Sports Association (SSA) stadium. The club’s management highlighted the unique atmosphere and the recently FIFA-certified artificial turf ground at the SSA stadium, which is expected to elevate the quality of play and provide an enjoyable viewing experience. “The atmosphere in the SSA stadium is very similar to that of the smaller EPL stadiums, and this is what will make this year’s I League interesting and enjoyable. The newly laid artificial turf ground has recently achieved FIFA certification (the first ground in Meghalaya to do so), and this is surely going to elevate the quality of play and the viewing experience for the spectators,” said Sawyan.
The competitive landscape of the I-League has evolved, with the champions of the league now gaining promotion to the ISL. Shillong Lajong FC faces a challenge from formidable opponents, including Mohammedan Sporting, Sreenidi Deccan FC Hyderabad, Gokulum Kerala, Churchill Brothers, and others. The club acknowledges the need to address the lack of experience among younger players who had limited senior national-level exposure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bobby Nongbet, an experienced coach with deep ties to the club’s youth academy, will lead the team in the 2023-24 season.
The club’s definition of success for the season is a top-5 finish, but nothing less than a championship will truly satisfy them.