The erudite Bhogtoram Mawroh gives his thoughts on footballers – past, present and on their way out – in his first column in ages…
March 2025 will be a very important month for all football lovers in Meghalaya. Shillong will host two international matches: either on 19th March or 20th there will be an international friendly to be played between India and Maldives; and on 25th March there will be the very crucial AFC Cup 2027 qualifier between India and Bangladesh. While India will play these two crucial matches in Shillong (Editor’s note: this has not been confirmed but the Meghalaya Football Association is working to make it happen), which is a hotbed of footballing talent, there may not be a Meghalayan player in the lineup. Over the last few tournaments no player from the state has been called to the senior team and it doesn’t seem like this is going to change in the next two months.
In the recent past, Meghalaya had players like Rocus Lamare, Aiborlang Khongjee and Eugeneson Lyngdoh, representing the country. All these players, though supremely talented, never had the long career that they deserved. Rocus was first selected by Savio Medeira under whom he won the 2011 SAFF Cup. He also played in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup. But after Wim Koevermans replaced Medeira, Rocus found games scarce and slowly faded out of the Indian team set-up.
The appointment of a new coach, however, was a blessing for Aiborlang, who got his debut under Koevermans. But there was a change in the coaching staff again, with Stephen Constantine coming back for a second stint as India’s senior team coach. Like it was with Rocus, the change resulted in Aiborlang getting sidelined. But the change was a blessing for Eugeneson, who got his break and became a very important member of the Indian team.
Such was the talent of Eugeneson that coaches and players remarked that if he was only younger, he could have played in the top leagues of Europe. A long and fruitful national and international career awaited him until a serious injury derailed the blossoming career. After that, he was never the same player and soon he was out of the Indian team as well. ‘Wrong place at the wrong time’ is the correct phrase to summarise the careers of these wonderful footballers. Since their careers overlapped, it is exciting to imagine the prospect of all three of them playing for the Indian team in the same match. Sadly, we never got to see that combination.
Meghalaya has got players who have been important for India at the junior level. There is Halen Nongtdu, who was the captain of the India U-20 team that won the SAFF U20 Championship. He also represented the country at the U20 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kuwait. He then signed for Mumbai City, a club playing in the top flight Indian Super League. However, in this year’s ISL campaign he has not played even a single match and therefore it is highly unlikely that he will selected for the Indian senior team.
The lack of game time has also been an issue for other Meghalayan players signed with the other ISL clubs. The other players from the state currently in the league include Redeem Tlang from NorthEast United FC, Aiban Dohling from Kerala Blasters, Padam Chettri from Mohammedan Sporting and Samuel Lyngdoh Kynshi (now on loan at I-League side Rajasthan United) and Ricky Shabong from Punjab FC. Among them, only Padam and Ricky have featured in 10 or more matches this season.
Ricky has been a regular India international since his days playing at the junior level. Recently, he captained Punjab FC during the Next Generation Cup 2024 held in England, which had the youth teams of clubs like Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur. After initially being loaned to Rajasthan United, he has now played in all 15 of Punjab FC’s matches this season, becoming a mainstay of the side. A future captain, he could very well be the next player from Meghalaya who might break into the Indian senior team. A player who will give him great competition in achieving that feat is Padam.
For me, the best goalkeeper from Meghalaya for the last decade and continuing, Padam played for Rangdajied for a very long time. He represented Meghalaya in the Santosh trophy and then played for Kenkre FC in the I-League. Although that club were relegated, Mohammedan signed Padam with whom he won the I-League in 2023-24 and with it the chance to play in the ISL this season. In his first campaign, he has already played 10 matches (two-thirds of the team’s matches). While he has still a long way to go in challenging a colossal player like Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the current India number one, Padam has what it takes to go far.
During the 2023-24 I League season, Padam was named Best Goalkeeper. I was very disappointed to see that his name was not among the list of awardees for the U Kiang Nangbah Award for sports. Kmoin Wahlang, the 73-year-old international marathoner from South West Khasi Hills, is a well-deserving winner and should have got the award a long time ago. But given his recent achievement, it was the right time to honour Padam. Maybe when he debuts for the Indian team, he will finally get the respect he deserves.
The limited game time for other players from the state is clear in the I-League as well. Aside from Shillong Lajong, only Sreenidi Deccan (Emboklang Nongkhlaw) and Dempo SC (Knerktilang Buam) feature players from the state. Lajong have a significant number of local players and since their return to the I-League last year, several of them have showcased their talent for the team. The most prominent ones are Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Kynsailang Khongsit, Damaitphang Lyngdoh, Phrangki Buam and Kenstar Kharshong. These players share extensive experience, having played for Lajong in their previous I-League campaign and subsequently for other teams. Damaitphang is different in that he is a Bengaluru FC product having played for their youth team.
I feel players like Hardy have been unfortunate, both with injuries and being overlooked by the Lajong management in previous campaigns. A consistently hard-working and creative player who always gives his all, he still has the potential to reach his destined heights. Kynsailang has proven to be a very steady defender combining defence and attack with great aplomb. Damaitphang has been dynamic while Kenstar has quietly done his duty with little fuss. Phrangki was once the top Indian scorer of the I-League in 2018-2019 and his pace and incisiveness is proving quite a handful for many defenders. The other players have also done admirably, with Aman Ahlawat improving after a shaky start and Ronney Wilson Kharbudon excelling in his opportunities. Lajong seem well-positioned for another season in the I-League next year and if they can perform well in the upcoming away matches who knows what rewards might await the team.
There are other players who I feel should have played at a higher level, I-League and ISL. Among them, Brolington Warlarpih (pictured) and Kitboklang Pale are top-class players who could have walked into any club team in the country. The way Brolington reads the danger and leads the defence is an example for any aspiring defender to emulate, while Kitboklang’s pure class and talent is out of this world. Both are still playing, but their careers at the top are almost over. Brolington recently retired from the state team while Kitboklang is no longer the same player. If only they had left Meghalaya to pursue opportunities elsewhere and persisted, we might have had the pleasure of watching them play at the highest level.
This is something that I feel that top players and clubs from Meghalaya have to aspire to. They need to play with the best and against the best. The recent Santosh Trophy campaign where the state lost in quarterfinals gave a glimpse of the immense talent that exists in Meghalaya. Quite a few of the players playing in the present Mawlai team were in the state side and showed that, given the right opportunity, they have what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Since it’s looking like they might win the Shillong Premier League and the Meghalaya State League, I hope Mawlai will take part or at least try to enter the I-League with Hering Shangpliang as the coach. People may not know it, but he was one of the first AFC Professional Coaching Diploma holders in the country.
Football has been the number one game in Meghalaya, but the love for the game has not translated to deserved success at the national and international level. Teams like Manipur and Mizoram have surpassed us in that regard. It is high time that the state gets it due recognition and the upcoming international matches are a missed opportunity. However, with the foundations already laid, the players, clubs, and state association must now showcase Meghalaya’s talent. I dream of the day when a player from our state captains India’s senior football team. Hopefully, that day comes sooner rather than later.
(The views expressed in the article are those of the author and do not reflect in any way his affiliation to any organisation or institution)
(File photo)
