Shillong, Feb 23: Overkindness Lyngdoh Mawnai and Manbhakupar Iawphniaw (pictured left and right) have been signed by Shillong Lajong for the Indian Football League 2025-26, the club announced on social media today.
The Meghalaya pair are two of five players announced by the club. The others are Jakob Vanlalhlimpuia, Lamlallian Vaiphei and Abelson Jachi.
Lajong have not made any other announcements regarding their squad for the IFL, which is the rebranded I-League. SLFC’s first match will be at home against Rajasthan United on 1st March.
Overkindness and Manbhakupar have plenty of experience behind them. The former, a defender, has played for the Meghalaya state team as well as Mawlai SC and Nangkiew Irat SC. This past season he was in the Calcutta Football League playing for Peerless.
Manbhakupar, a forward, has been a Rangdajied United man most recently, though he has also featured for NEROCA, FC Bengaluru United and Kickstart FC of Karnataka.
Lajong described Jakob as a forward and Lamlallian and Abelson both as midfielders.
This season, with Indian football struggling to get a proper men’s season going, the structure of the IFL has been arranged to make it short and less expensive to hold. The first stage will be a single-leg round-robin between the 10 teams. The top five will then play a home and away Championship Round, while the remaining five will be in a Relegation Round in a centralised location.
The winner of the Championship Round will be promoted to the Indian Super League, while the bottom two from the Relegation Round will drop down to the lower division (previously I-League 2) next season.
(File photos)