Shillong, Jul 24: After three seasons in charge of Nangkiew Irat, Joseph Naik has taken over the reins of Nongkseh, with his first tests to be the upcoming Shillong Premier League 2026 and Durand Cup 2026.
Nongkseh said farewell to Richard Nongneng in June after he led them to success in the Shillong Sports Association’s First Division 2025, SSA Champions Cup, Sikkim Gold Cup and 5th Meghalaya State League.
As an AFC A Licence holder, Naik has the qualifications that other tournaments require and he has the experience of coaching a Shillong-based club as well. Nangkiew Irat had mediocre 2023 and 2024 SPL campaigns but challenged for the 2025 title until their momentum flagged towards the end.
Naik is known to be a capable coach but is never shy from making his (negative) feelings known when criticising players, coaches or anyone else, often with some choice swear words thrown in.
In the past he has coached the Sethu FC women’s team, coached the Punjab FC U-18 team and been the assistant coach of Mohammedan Sporting.
How he gels with his new players will be interesting to see. Nongneng is a good coach but it was felt by some that Nongkseh’s sheer strength of players – like Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Chesterpaul Lyngdoh, Sheen Sohktung and Shano Tariang, to name only a few – carried them to greater success that they would have otherwise had.
Ahead of the new season Nongkseh have added even more strong players, like Kynsailang Khongsit, Aenam Jyrwa, Dawanchwa Carlos Challam and Hamedamanbha Wahlang.
Nongkseh will play their first SPL match on 27th July against Mylliem and then their maiden Durand Cup game against Shillong Lajong on 31st July.
(File photo)