Shillong, Jul 30: Nongkseh SSCC will look to continue their meteoric rise when they face Shillong Lajong FC in the opening match of the Durand Cup 2026’s Group E at the JN Stadium here on Friday evening. Kick-off will be at 5PM.
Going back to 2025, Nongkseh have not had to drink the bitter cup of defeat even once in any competitive match and that includes the Shillong Sports Association’s First Division 2025, SSA Champions Cup 2025, Sikkim Gold Cup and 5th Meghalaya State League (MSL). Four major tournaments brought them four major trophies but this will be their biggest challenge.
For awaiting them is not a Shillong Lajong side that Nongkseh have beaten in the Champions Cup and MSL. SLFC fielded its junior sides in those tournaments but tomorrow they are bringing the big guns from the senior team.
For the third consecutive year, Shillong is a co-host of the Durand Cup, but never before has the city witnessed three of its own clubs (the other being MSL runners-up Langsning) competing in Asia’s oldest football tournament.
Shillong Lajong under Birendra Thapa made it to the 2025 Durand Cup semifinals where they went down to eventual champions NorthEast United FC. That was also where they exited in 2024, though under a different head coach.
The Reds return with unfinished business and they will not want to concede their top dog status to upstarts Nongkseh.
Thapa knows expectations are different this time. “Every tournament you play, you don’t play just to please the people and the fans. You want to win. You want to reach the final and lift the championship. Last time we lost in the semifinal. This time we want to reach the final and win it,” he said.
Yet, despite Lajong’s experience, Thapa is not expecting an easy evening. “They (Nongkseh) are a good side. They’ve signed many good players from Shillong. It will be a tough match, but we are going all out.”
Across the dressing room, the mood is equally confident. For Nongkseh, tomorrow is the biggest day in the club’s history.
Several players have experienced the tournament before, including captain Hardy Cliff Nongbri, who returns to face his former club. He was the captain of the Lajong side that reached the 2024 semifinals.
“Shillong Lajong is a very good team. I know them very well because they were my teammates,” Nongbri said.
But nostalgia will end with the first whistle. “We have experienced players, players who have played in the I-League and ISL. We also have a good combination of juniors and seniors. We’ll give our best and we’ll try to win.”
Head coach Joseph Naik (who joined the club in the last few weeks) believes his players have earned the right to be here. “We’re grateful for this opportunity because the Durand Cup is such a prestigious tournament,” he says. “We respect Shillong Lajong, they’ve been an important figure in Indian football. But we’ve been working very hard, and now it’s our time to get the job done.”
The rivalry is local. The respect is mutual.
SLFC captain Kenstar Kharshong expects exactly the kind of contest Meghalaya football deserves. “They have some good and experienced players. I think it will be a very good match. I hope the supporters come and enjoy watching it.”
(File photo)
