Shillong, May 1: Nongkseh SSCC are putting together one of the strongest teams of recent years in the Shillong Sports Association First Division as they look to secure promotion to the Shillong Premier League.
The SSA inter-club transfer window closed yesterday and Nongkseh made their intentions for the 2025 First Division season clear by signing up 12 players, including several top names. The club have also appointed senior coach Richard Nongneng as their new gaffer.
The biggest signing is undoubtedly that of Hardy Cliff Nongbri, a midfielder who has been a regular at Shillong Lajong FC in the I-League over the years. It’s a bit of a climbdown for Hardy – the SSA’s First Division is several tiers lower that what he’s used to – but the club must have done enough to convince him to come on over. Nongkseh said in a press release yesterday that Hardy is thrilled with the new challenge and is “fully committed to helping the team secure promotion to the Shillong Premier League.”
He will be joining another former I-League regular, Chesterpaul Lyngdoh, who spearheaded Nongkseh’s campaign in 2024. He scored 7 of the club’s 19 goals last year and also provided five assists.
Although they had put together a strong team last season, Nongkseh were only able to finish fourth in the First Division 2024, ending behind the likes of Mawtawar, Mylliem and Malki; the latter two have secured promotion to this season’s SPL.
Nongkseh also signed five players from Meghalaya State League 2024 champions and SPL 2024 runners-up Mawlai. One of these is Khrawkupar Jana – the MSL 2024 top scorer and Mawlai’s top scorer in SPL 2024. The other four are Baiaikara Swer, the highly experienced Fullmoon Mukhim, Wanboklang Lyngkhoi and Banskhemlang Mawlong. All five have been crucial to Mawlai’s success in recent years and have also represented the Meghalaya state team as well on multiple occasions.
Other notable names are Mebankhraw Wahlang (from Ryntih) and Kitboklang Pale (Lawsohtun). Shano Tariang and Pynbhalang Suting are a couple of players that Nongkseh hope to rope in – they and Chanmitre Thma (another target) are currently registered with clubs outside the state and will only be able to join during the national transfer window.
The lesser known players picked up locally are Lajong’s third-choice SPL goalkeeper Guidle Syiemlieh, Langsning’s rarely used Vicky Sharma, Amand Biswa (Sawmer) and Mickey Tynsong (Pohkseh).
Apart from Chesterpaul, seven other players have been retained from last year’s campaign. This blend of a familiar core and injection of new players will, the club hope, give the side the right boost to fight for the First Division title.
Founded in 1969, Nongkseh had made it to the Super Division, the forerunner to the SPL, back in 2008. That was their high point and they are aiming to rediscover some of that past success this year.
(File photos. Clockwise from top left – Khrawkupar Jana, Fullmoon Mukhim, Banskhemlang Mawlong, Mebankhraw Wahlang, Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Kitboklang Pale)
