Shillong, May 12: Three Meghalaya boys – (pictured left to right) Damaitphang Lyngdoh, Emboklang Nongkhlaw and Lastborn Mawphniang – were part of the Bengaluru FC team that won the inaugural edition of the Reliance Foundation Development League in Goa today.
Bengaluru were unbeaten over seven games and scored 19 goals overall.
Lyngdoh and Mawphniang have been at Bengaluru since 2017, with the former even featuring in the senior squad on a few occasions in the Indian Super League and AFC Cup. Nongkhlaw joined the club in 2020-21 after a spell at the Tata Centre of Excellence in Mizoram.
Eight sides took part in the league – Bengaluru, Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, Kerala Blasters, Mumbai City, Hyderabad FC (all from the ISL) and Reliance Foundation Young Champs. It began on 15th April and concluded today.
The top two teams will travel to the United Kingdom to participate in the Next Gen Cup, a tournament hosted by the Premier League.
The league was a first of its kind that aimed to provide a unique opportunity for emerging U-21 players to compete against the best talent in their age group from across the country.
Incidentally, the referee for today’s last match, where BFC and the Blasters played a goalless draw, was also from Meghalaya – Kynsanphar Lyngdoh Nongum.
(Photo contributed)
