Sawmer, Nangkiew Irat biggest signers in SSA transfer window

218 transfers in all this year

Shillong, May 10: Sawmer and Nangkiew Irat, who both secured promotion to this year’s Shillong Premier League (SPL), signed the most players in the Shillong Sports Association’s transfer window, which closed last week.

A total of 218 transfers were made this year, down on 2017’s figure of 269.

Nangkiew Irat, last year’s First Division champions, signed up 12 players, including Maitshaphrang Kharumnuid, Chesterfield Nongdhar and Lambor Nongsiej, the last of whom was the top scorer for Malki in SPL 2017. Sawmer, who finished second to Nangkiew, picked up 18 players, including Rheadolf Nongneng, the young, impetuous talent from Shillong United. Both teams released three players each.

Meanwhile, despite still no official confirmation from the club, it looks like Shillong United have indeed wound up operations, with 25 of their players going to other clubs and no signings made.

United’s players have dispersed far and wide. Nongrim Hills and Sawmer have signed five each, while another 10 clubs have taken on SUFC players as well – Shillong Lajong (3), Gorkha Association (2), Laban (2), Langsning (2), Laitkor (1), Lawsohtun (1), Malki (1), Marbisu (1), Nangkiew (1) and Smit (1).

Among the big clubs in the SPL, 18 players from Rangdajied went to other clubs, while the 2017 runners-up signed up nine, one of whom is Samson Nongrum, Meghalaya Police’s top scorer last season. The cops, for their part, took on just one player – Fernando Shadap Manar, formerly of Malki.

Lajong signed just four players during the transfer window and released one, while defending champions Langsning picked up five while releasing 16. Some veteran and new names have left Langsning, like Victor Shadap (heading to Laban), Maitshaphrang Kharumnuid (Nangkiew), Banshanlang Nongdhar (Smit), Wallamsuk Nongkhlaw (Rangdajied) and Verdy Clifford Lyngdoh (Rising).

If, as seems likely, Shillong United don’t take part in SPL 2018, the top league in East Khasi Hills will feature only seven teams – Langsning, Rangdajied, Lajong, Malki, Meghalaya Police, Nangkiew and Sawmer.

The First Division consists of 10 clubs, while the Second and Third Divisions contained 14 and 31 teams respectively last year. Rising and Sohryngkham made the jump to this season’s First Division, while Laitkor and Lawsohtun gained promotion to the Second Division.

(TSR file photo)