By Our Reporter
Shillong, Nov 6: Rangdajied United Football Club (RUFC) will make their return to senior-level national club football for the first time in nearly a decade when they play their first match of the All India Football Federation’s inaugural Third Division League (or I-League 3) season later this month.
Rangdajied were in the I-League proper back in 2013-14 (the second club from the state to reach what was then the top tier of Indian football after Shillong Lajong FC) but, though they finished above the relegation zone, stricter club licensing requirements meant that they were ineligible to take part the following season and never attempted to requalify in subsequent years.
Now, though, the AIFF has introduced a Third Division League comprising champions of state leagues and nominated clubs. Rangdajied qualified after having won this year’s Meghalaya State League.
At a press conference held here on Monday, former India international and RUFC President Eugeneson Lyngdoh said that the club had, last year, set a goal of returning to the national scene in five years but things were hurried along with the MSL win.
“It is thanks to the sheer determination of the players, staff and other officials that we got here,” Eugene said. “Last year it became our goal to get back to the national scene in five years but things changed drastically in the past one year. We were runners-up in the Shillong Premier League, third in the Reliance Foundation Development League (regional stage) and champions of the MSL, which was the pinnacle of our success.”
“Success in the MSL gave us the opportunity to play in the inaugural Third Division and if we qualify we will go to the Second Division 2023-24,” Eugeneson further added.
Also on Monday, Rangdajied announced its collaboration with Meghalaya Tourism as the club’s main sponsor for the upcoming season on Monday.
General Manager of RUFC Andrew Suting stated that “the club’s management and players are elated with this partnership, which reflects the shared vision of showcasing Meghalaya’s natural beauty, rich culture, and vibrant tourism opportunities through the medium of football. The support from Meghalaya Tourism will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and development of the football club while simultaneously drawing attention to the treasures of the state.”
In addition to Meghalaya Tourism, Rangdajied United FC also announced PUMA as their official kit partner for the season.
The Third Division’s first round will see the participating teams divided up into groups, with Rangdajied playing their games in Goa with hosts Dempo SC, Jeppiaar Institute of Technology FC from Tamil Nadu, Kickstart FC from Karnataka and Millat FC from Maharashtra. RUFC’s first match will be against the latter on November 13.
The playoffs featuring the top five teams will be held in the second half of December, the AIFF website says.
All of Rangdajied’s registered players are from Khasi-Jaintia Hills and the team will be coached by Subir Dey, with Aiborlang Khongjee the technical director and Aibanjop Shadap the assistant coach.