Super fan Bhogtoram Mawroh is back to give us more of insights into SPL 2026, specifically what he thinks is necessary for Nongkseh, Shillong Lajong and Mawlai to go forwards
Nongkseh’s unbeaten run in SSA competitions finally came to an end yesterday and it was Shillong Lajong who ended it. Lajong’s senior team had inflicted defeat on Nongkseh in the Durand Cup last month and Lajong showed that they were a much stronger and more experienced team at that level. That loss revealed the standard that Nongkseh, who will feature in the next edition of I-League 3, will have to reach before they can dream of playing alongside their more illustrious rivals Lajong.Â
Yesterday Nongkseh dominated the game and looked the superior team for most parts of it. In the previous season and especially during the cup tournaments – the SSA Champions Cup 2025 and the Meghalaya Super League – the team seemed to be solely dependent on the individual brilliance of some of its players, especially Hardy Cliff Nongbri. When things were not going well, it would invariably be Hardy’s runs into the box or his set-piece deliveries that would come to Nongkseh’s rescue. However, against better teams, they seemed a little clueless about how to retain possession effectively and move the ball with purpose. Against Lajong they showed that they have immensely improved in this respect. They looked like a team that knew how to move the ball around with pace and there was constant rotation between the front players Shano Tariang and Dawanchwa C Challam, supported by Hardy.
Dawanchwa has really grown in stature as a player and was recently named one of the Emerging Players of the Durand Cup 2026. His mazy run from midfield and powerful strike against Mumbay FC was a beautiful display of skill, power and precision. In yesterday’s game against Lajong, he played with great confidence and the only thing missing from his performance was a goal. However, he does not appear to be a genuine striker, nor does Shano fit that profile. There is no denying Shano’s industry and he is very good in tight spaces. It is a pleasure to have watched him grow as a player since the days when he was playing in the U-19 SPL with Nangkiew Irat. But again, he is not a genuine striker. Kitboklang Pale still has the class, but he, too, is not a pure striker. And this is the missing piece of the puzzle that Nongkseh have to solve.
For Nongkseh to further evolve, I would like to see more guile from the wide players, whether it is Chesterpaul Lyngdoh, Aenam Jyrwa or Kynsaibor Lhuid. Kynsaibor is the most frustrating player because, individually, he is a delight to watch with his quick feet. But when it comes to passing the ball, he can sometimes make an easy pass look like the most difficult skill in the world. In this game as well, there were some moments when this aspect of his game was exposed. Chesterpaul’s industry and commitment cannot be questioned but his deliveries and decision-making seemed to be a little inadequate for the team right now. I remember Aenam from the days when he played for Lajong and he is a former junior India international. There needs to be much more output from him as well.
With the wide attackers not delivering enough and the front players not capable of playing as genuine strikers against better teams, they need to find a player who can play on the shoulders of the last defender. If they can find such a player and get more out of their wide attacking players, this Nongkseh team, despite their unbeaten run having come to an end, have shown that they can dream big.
The lack of a striker is also something that is plaguing Lajong in the SPL.
Lajong, as they have continuously done over the years, have been producing some absolute gems. I have been really impressed by Riborlang Lyngdoh Lyngkhoi and his performance against Mawlai in the 2024 SPL was something that I will always cherish. The way he was able to skip past multiple players with such graceful ease left every spectator speechless. It was an absolute masterclass performance and a testament to the work Lajong have put into developing technically sound players. I was hoping that he would be able to push on from there and stake a claim in the senior team. However, except for a few moments, he has not been as effective so far. But they have discovered another gem in Colinsalmon Lyngdoh. The question, however, is whether Riborlang is being moved around to accommodate newer talents. For me, he is playing too deep and we need to see him further upfront, closer to the striker. It is in the latter position that Lajong are currently facing a crisis.
In the match against Nongkseh, it was Lalmuansanga who was leading the line. Except for the penalty that he scored following a handball by Banskhemlang Mawlong, he was anonymous throughout the game. Deibormame Tongper later replaced him but did not do enough. The lack of a genuine striker was visible against Mawlai as well, who were able to keep Lajong at bay. The problem, for me, lies in the fact that the strikers are being made to play a hybrid kind of role, where they are asked to create as well as finish. Especially when Deibormame is playing, he is constantly trying to pull players out of position. I do not think this tactic is working anymore against better teams. They need someone like their senior team striker Everbrightson Mylliempdah. Some of his goals look scrappy, but what makes him so deadly is his killer instinct and positioning. He always appears to be in a good position for a loose ball or a through ball, not very far from the opposition box or inside it. The first job of a striker is to score goals and that is something Lajong are missing right now. Last year as well, in crucial moments, Lajong’s front players were not good enough to win the match, especially against Nangkiew Irat, where victory would have given them the trophy. They may still win the SPL crown at the end of this season but their job will be made much easier if the strikers start scoring plenty of goals.
Mawlai played against Lajong on 21st August and showed that they have grown as a team. In that match they were much more composed and appeared more tactically mature. However, in the closing stages, Lajong’s greater technical ability and stamina appeared to put Mawlai on the back foot. But Lajong’s lack of cutting edge denied them a victory with Lalmuansanga missing an open header. So, there is still some improvement required. But perhaps the biggest problem for Mawlai is that there are still quite a few unforced errors that they have to eliminate from their game, ie, bad first touch at important moments and misplaced passes. That side of their game was revealed against Mylliem as well. Although they scored five goals against Laitkor, they also appear to suffer from the same issue: a lack of a prolific striker. Among their attacking players, Fairming Suting looks to be the only one capable of leading the attack but when he is not effective the only option seems to be asking Damanbhalang Chyne to take up the responsibility. To be fair, Damanbhalang does get into good positions and has scored important goals, but then it leaves the midfield light, where his leadership and composure are needed. He cannot be the go-to person every time the existing strikers fail to perform.
They have a senior attacker from the wide areas in the form of Robertson Khongriah. However, in the game against Mylliem, Robertson was one-on-one against the goalkeeper and still could not score. He also loses the ball quite often. His pace has always been his ally, but he has to do more. I think Mawlai are still growing as a team. There is no standout player in the team like one can find in Nongkseh, Lajong and Langsning but they have good, solid, hardworking players who play well as a team. However, they need to cut out the unforced errors from their game. As of now, they are top of the league with a very healthy goal difference. By not losing to Lajong, they have put themselves in a good position but they need to be wary of the other competitors, especially Meghalaya Police, who are this season’s dark horses.
One closing observation I would like to make is that I cannot believe Mylliem have lost all three of their games and are sitting at the bottom of the table. Against Nongkseh, it was their uncontrolled aggression, particularly the red card to Shaibor Nongrum, that cost them the game. But they are a much better team than their position as the last team in the table suggests. I hope they can improve in their future games.
