Shillong, Aug 12: Ryntih will not become the fourth football club from Shillong to play in the I-League after the All India Football Federation granted a place in the competition through direct entry to Sudeva for the 2020-21 season and to Sreenidhi for 2021-22.
The announcement was made by the AIFF on its website today.
Ryntih were hoping to follow in the footsteps of Shillong Lajong, Rangdajied United and Royal Wahingdoh, all of whom now no longer feature in the I-League.
Sudeva are based out of New Delhi and Sreenidhi in Hyderabad, though the latter will play their home football in Visakhapatnam.
When the invitation for bids was announced by the governing body, one spot in the I-League was advertised for and it looked like Sudeva were favourites after senior AIFF officials expressed confidence that the national capital, which was unrepresented in either the I-League or Indian Super League, would have one club in either of the two leagues.
As part of their bid, Ryntih took several steps, such as restructuring its administration, tying up with an international club and signing agreements for use of a suitable football stadium in Shillong.
Recently the club announced that Wallamkupar Kharpran, who coached the side to third in last year’s Shillong Premier League, has been named as Managing Director, with Samran S Syiem as the CEO and Manbha K Khongwir the General Manager.
At the end of last month Ryntih also revealed that they had struck a partnership with Transport United, the top club in neighbouring Bhutan.
This season of the I-League will probably begin late in the year at one or two venues selected by the AIFF.
(TSR file photo)
