Shillong, May 8: After the disappointment of Mawlai SC’s exit from the 2025-26 I-League 3 came further bad news for Assam-based side Chhaygaon FC.
This club had four Khasi and Garo players representing it in the I-League 3 and they appeared to have qualified for the final round until they were deemed to have forfeited a match that they had won on the pitch. But more on that later.
The four players we’re most interested in are Shanborlang Nonglait (pictured front row far right), who played most recently for Laitkor in the Shillong Premier League, Stephan Kyrsian (standing behind Shanborlang), Diamond Mawlong (formerly of 4 For All Academy) and Tridip Marak.
Shanborlang started in all three of Chhaygaon’s Group C matches (one team withdrew before the tournament began).
Stephan has been playing in Assam for a long time and also started in each of his club’s three games. He also wore the captain’s armband.
The other two players were both used as substitutes twice.
Chhaygaon lost their opening match to KLASA 1-0 and then beat Citadel Godavari Legends FC 2-0. Then came the match against Diamond Rock Football Academy.
The 3rd May match saw Chhaygaon win 4-0 (with Shanborlang scoring a goal no less). However, three days later, they were deemed to have forfeited the game and a 3-0 win was awarded to Diamond Rock. This had the effect of knocking Chhaygaon out of the tournament when they had previously been poised to qualify for the final round.
At the time of filing this report, no explanation has been provided by the All India Football Federation as to why the match result was overturned. Even the clubs concerned have been quiet about it, though Diamond Rock are celebrating getting into the next round. It seems most likely that Chhaygaon fielded an ineligible player and Diamond Rock protested, resulting in the forfeit. Indeed, Ningthoujam Arbin Singh picked up a yellow card in each of the first two matches but was still fielded in the starting XI against Diamond Rock – this might have been the reason for the forfeit.
The six clubs to have qualified for the final round are Sunrise Orissa and FC Raengdai (both from Mawlai’s Group A), TRAU from Group B, KLASA and Diamond Rock from Group C and FC Banaras Bhagpat from Group D.
Three of these clubs – Raengdai, KLASA and TRAU – are all from Manipur. The final round will also be held in Manipur’s capital Imphal, starting next week, where the teams will play in a centralised single round-robin format. The top two clubs at the end of the final round earn promotion to the 2026–27 I-League 2.
(Photo: Chhaygaon FC/Facebook)
