Shillong Lajong F.C.

Shillong Lajong Football Club is a I-League football club from Shillong, Meghalaya. The club was established in 1983 with the prime objective of improving the diminishing standard of football in the state, and to spot, train and nurture local talent. In the local Khasi language Lajong translates to “our own”. ^[1]

Headquartered in Shillong, Lajong has access to the largest student population in the North-East and hence the football talent right from a young age. Lajong is under professional management and has a strong fan base across the North-East, which is being actively developed.

History

During the finals of the Meghalaya Invitation Cup in 1982, two football enthusiasts Shri Kitdor Syiem and Shri P. D. Sawyan saddened by the continuous failure of the Shillong teams to make it to the final stages of the tournament formed a football club to reverse the trend.

Together with a group of friends and supporters they commissioned a semi –professional club aptly called Lajong Football Club literally translating into “Our own” or “of the people”.

In 1983 the club played in the 3rd Division of the Shillong Sports Association League and was the champion being then promoted to the 2nd Division and similarly the same year in 1984 was promoted to the First Division of the league. Things started to change rapidly after the title clash for the Shillong Championship was inevitably poised against the Blue Max FC another professionally organized club which later changed itself Langsning Sports Club of today. It was only in 1989 that Lajong FC finally annexed the championship for the first time.

In 1990 Lajong FC became the Meghalaya Invitation Cup champion beating Nabajyoti FC the Guwahati champions in the finals, seven years after its maiden entry.

In 2009 Lajong FC joined the I-League 2nd Division which is the second highest national league in India. After one season in the second division Lajong was promoted to the I-League, which is the highest league in India.

Shillong Lajong gained promotion to the I-League for the 2009-10 season, and had appointed former Salgaocar and East Bengal coach Stanley Rozario for their first season in India's top flight. ^[2]

They played their first match in I-League in 2009 and lost to JCT FC 1-5. In there first ever home match in the I-League, they defeated Air India 3-0 in front of 30,000 people. In their second home match, they lost to Mohun Bagan 2-1, in front of a home crowd of 30,000.

At the end of the I-League season, Shillong was relegated to the 2nd division of I-League, the I-League 2nd Division after finishing the season in last place.

For the 2011 season Shillong participated in the I-League 2nd Division. Do to Shillong hosting the 2011 I-League 2nd Division Final Round they were able to skip the group stages and go straight into the Final Round.

They ended there one year stint in the I-League 2nd Division with a 1-0 victory over Mohammedan SC on May 13, 2011 after which they got promoted back to the I-League for 2011-12.

Colors

The official colors of Lajong are Red and White. The home jersey is all red while the away jersey is all white.

Stadiums

For the 2011–12 I-League season Shillong Lajong F.C. are using the Khuman Lampak Main Stadium in Imphal after the Nehru Stadium in Shillong is under renovation.

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Kit manufacturers

• 2009-present: Adidas

Shirt Sponsors

• 2010-present: Aircel

Current roster

As of 24 January 2011.^[3] Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Management

As of 8 November 2011.

Honours

Domestic

• I-League 2nd Division

Winners (1): 2011

• Federation Cup

Runners-up (1): 2009-10

References