Shillong, Sep 6: It’s been a rollercoaster 48 hours or so since the news was broken that Langsning FC would not take part in the Shillong Premier League 2024. That was on Wednesday evening and yesterday afternoon it was confirmed. However, sometime yesterday evening it emerged that the club management may have had a change of heart.
The very idea that a club with such tremendous history could skip the SPL was enough for a flurry of phone calls and appeals to the Rapsang family that has largely supported Langsning financially for so many years now. Players, ex-players, well-wishers and those from Jaiaw Langsning social organisations have all been considering ways to help the club take part this year.
Taking a break is not something that could easily be done, especially if the club really wanted to make a comeback in 2026. According to Shillong Sports Association rules, a club that didn’t participate one year would have to start from the Fourth Division if it did rejoin and that would mean several years of working their way up and back to the SPL (unless Langsning could buy their way back through an auction).
Even if the club are ready to contest SPL 2024, there remains the matter of players and time. With around a dozen players having left the club locally and for teams further afield, there remain only 15 on the Langsning books and management would have to look for loan options.
The league is set to begin in October, according to SSA officials spoken to yesterday, so that leaves Langsning only around a month to get their squad ready and fit for the longest SPL on record (with the addition of two clubs to the eight from SPL 2023, there are supposed to be 90 matches this season).
This news story has evolved quickly and probably isn’t done yet. Tomorrow might bring yet another chapter and we’ll try and keep on top of things at TSR. Stay tuned.
(File photo)
