Shillong, Apr 21: Renowned Meghalaya coach Hering Shangpliang will continue to lead Mawlai SC as the club embarks on a new challenge in the I-League 3 next week.
Representatives of the club held a press conference at the Shillong Press Club today, accompanied by Shangpliang and a few of their top players – Damanbhalang Chyne, Robertson Khongriah and Fairming Suting.
As TSR had reported on 9th April, Mawlai have been slotted in Group A, with FC Raengdai (Manipur), Sikkim Brotherhood FC, Sunrise Club Orissa and ARA FC (Gujarat). All the matches in this group will be held at the Khuman Lampak Stadium in Imphal.
Shangpliang is no stranger to taking Shillong clubs to the national level, having coached Rangdajied United in the I-League (now the Indian Football League) in 2013-14 and Langsning in I-League 2 in 2017-18. He has been with Mawlai since the 2023 Shillong Premier League, which the club won.
Mawlai have budgeted somewhere between Rs 50-60 lakh for the tournament and have received backing from local benefactors, such as Lambok Mylliem, Godwin Lakiang, Joey Marbaniang, Kynsai Jyrwa, PM Lamare and Dr Khrawkupar Kharnaior. They have also sought for state government support.
Mawlai, with its 104-year history behind it, are eligible for I-League 3 by virtue of being the reigning Meghalaya State League champions.
The All India Football Federation introduced I-League 3 in 2023 for champions of the various state leagues across the country. This is the first stepping stone at the national level that leads to I-League 2, the Indian Football League and up to the pinnacle, the Indian Super League.
For Meghalaya, the winners of the Meghalaya State League are eligible to take part in I-League 3. Rangdajied United (MSL 3 champs) were in the 2023 edition but couldn’t progress past the group stage. Mawlai then won the MSL 4 title.
Mawlai were at the height of their powers back then, having won back-to-back Shillong Premier League trophies and then the statewide MSL crown.
However, 2025 was more difficult for them, as they finished third in the SPL (after almost winning it) and were semifinalists in the new SSA Super Cup.
This I-League 3 campaign, however, overlaps with the ongoing MSL 5. Mawlai have won both of their matches so far but still have four group games to go. Unless they have enough players to split into two teams, there will likely have to be some accommodation from the MSL organisers, as had been done with Shillong Lajong in 2023 when they were in I-League 2.
(Photo contributed)
