Shillong, Jan 11: Rupert Nongrum is returning to the I-League after the briefest of stints in the Indian Super League at NorthEast United FC.
He will now play for Real Kashmir, joining two of his old Shillong Lajong team mates, Samuel Lyngdoh Kynshi and Phrangki Buam.
It was only in October that Nongrum was taken by the Highlanders after two seasons with Punjab FC; he had previously played for NEUFC in 2019-20.
While the midfielder played in four matches for the ISL club that year, he only featured in one match – for six minutes – this time around.
NorthEast United aren’t setting the season alight anyway, being at the bottom of the table, so maybe it’s no great loss for Nongrum. On the other hand, Real Kashmir are fourth in the I-League standings, though they have dropped from top place.
Nongrum has played in 45 I-League matches, for Punjab and Lajong, scoring five goals in all since making his debut in 2014-15. By contrast, he has featured in 25 ISL matches, for NEUFC, ATK in 2017-18 and Delhi Dynamos (the current Odisha FC) in 2016.
