Shillong, Sep 23: Bobby Lyngdoh Nongbet, who coached the H Elias Higher Secondary School team to Subroto Cup glory last week in the boys’ U-17 category has paid tribute to all the people who made it possible.
H Elias defeated Bangladesh Krira Shiksha Protisthan 1-0 in the final in New Delhi last Tuesday.
“Firstly I give thanks to God, who blessed us in winning the trophy,” Nongbet said today. “This victory is not down to me alone, it is also because of the hard work and passion of all the coaches who have guided the players since they began playing football.”
An AFC A-License coach with a youth coaching diploma to boot, Nongbet is widely regarded as one of the best youth coaches in Meghalaya.
The list of people who made the Meghalaya team’s success possible is a long one and Nongbet thanked them all from the players, support staff (Silvester Wahlang and Benjamin Lyngdoh), H Elias principal Father Sebastian Pallaty, Director of Sports & Youth Affairs Wanri Booth, Deputy Director Jeebon Marak, Assistant Director Jasper Marak, East Khasi Hills District Sports Officer Daniel Dan, members of the public who encouraged the boys to the hilt, all the schools that took part in the district- and state-level Subroto Cup tournaments, Deputy Inspector General of Police Francis Kharshiing, 3rd Battalion Commandant Ramesh Singh and Sports & Youth Affairs Minister Banteidor Lyngdoh, who travelled to New Delhi for the final and encouraged and celebrated with the team in person.
Special thanks went specifically to the players, who worked so hard and showed great discipline on their way to the title.
“Like I’ve said many times, we have youngsters with lots of talent in our state and we need to continually identify new talent and we need to also identify coaches who have the talent to lead our youth,” Nongbet said, concluding with the opinion that Meghalaya needs a dedicated football academy for the youth.
(TSR file photo)
