Nongthymmai sign 22 players in SSA transfer window; Mawkhar, Nangkiew see most departures

Shillong, Apr 20: Newly-promoted Nongthymmai signed up 22 players during the Shillong Sports Association’s transfer window, the most of any club this year.

All in all, 189 players moved from one SSA-affiliated club to another. These transfers do not include any players that may have come in from different states or even from a different sports association. The SSA window closed last Saturday.

Nongthymmai won promotion to this season’s Shillong Premier League by finishing as runners-up in last season’s First Division. However, you won’t find any really big name players in the list but they will try to make an impact nonetheless.

Three of their players have come in from Mawkhar, who were relegated after finishing last year’s SPL at the bottom of the table. Sixteen other Mawkhar players have drifted off into other teams and the club didn’t sign any new players of their own.

Nangkiew Irat were the other SPL team to lose plenty of players – 12 left and just two were signed.

Sawmer, who return to the SPL after being relegated at the end of 2018, have brought in 12 players, including veteran Bickyson Kharkongor, the same number as last year’s SPL runners-up Rangdajied United.

For reigning SPL champions Mawlai, it appears as if they will repose faith in their tried and tested title-winning team. The club only signed two new (fairly unknown) players and released seven squad members who didn’t always make it to the first eleven.

Another champion side that haven’t made many changes are Laitkor, who have been promoted to this season’s First Division; they released two players and signed two. Joining them in the First Division are Mylliem, who have brought on 10 new members.

Other big signers are the SPL’s Ryntih (10 signed, six released) and the First Division’s Nongrim Hills (11 signed, eight released).

Shillong Lajong, in the SPL, have brought on 13, a lot of whom have been used extensively in their national Second Division League campaign.

And, interestingly, Langsning (in the SPL) and Malki (dropping to the First Division) have signed and released an equal number of players – 10 and 11 respectively.