Shillong, Dec 23: Shillong Lajong FC have named a 21-member squad for the All India Football Federation’s U-17 boys’ Elite League.
Meghalaya play their first match against Classic Football Academy of Manipur today. The other teams drawn in Group D are Gauhati Town Club (Assam), East Bengal (West Bengal) and Jamshedpur FC (Jharkhand). Group D matches will all take place in Imphal.
There will be a total of 111 matches across 11 locations during the tournament, which marks a return of age-category football to the country following the Covid-19 pandemic.
A total of 49 teams from 29 states and Union territories have been divided into 10 groups, which will be played in a single-leg round-robin format. The 10 group winners and six best second-placed teams will qualify for the final round, which will be held in a knockout format.
Lajong have a chief coach in Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet, with Lekini Suting joining as coach. “Happy that Lekini Suting has just joined in. His experience and contribution will be of a huge bonus to our youth development system,” Nongbet said.
Lajong squad: Kitboklang Buam, Rimankhraw Kharumnuid, Micheal Roy Kurbah, Badondor Marbaniang, Festoon Shangpliang, M Nihaar, Damangskhem Thabah, Riborlang Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi, Varjelous Shylla, Wanshailang Lyngdoh Nongbsap, Nakul Ajay, Sainpyniar Lyngdoh, Nehemaiah Warbah, Pynshailang Jyrwa, Banlamkupar Rynjah, Mebannangkiew Thabah, Yohaan Benjamin, Rijied Dathew Warbah, Prasanna Swaminathan, Banteilang Rymbai, Pranav S
Lajong support staff: Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet (chief coach), Lekini Suting (coach), Milan Nongkhlaw (assistant coach), Embhah Dkhar (manager), Greater Lapasam (physio)
Lajong fixtures:
vs Classic Football Academy, 23rd December
vs Gauhati Town Club, 27th December
vs East Bengal, 29th December
vs Jamshedpur FC, 31st December
(Shillong Lajong FC photo)
