Shillong Lajong FC Shines in Indian Football League with All-Indian Squad

A Historic Achievement for Shillong Lajong FC

GUWAHATI, May 25: Shillong Lajong FC has brought a wave of optimism to Indian football by securing the second position in the Indian Football League (formerly known as I-League) with a team composed entirely of Indian players.

The club, based in Shillong, concluded their league season on Saturday with a decisive 3-0 victory against the champions, Diamond Harbour, finishing with 28 points from 14 matches, just one point shy of the leaders. Lajong achieved eight wins, four draws, and two losses, with an average squad age of approximately 23 years.

Throughout the season, they netted 28 goals, only three less than Diamond Harbour, while conceding a mere 12 goals, the fewest in the league. Their goal difference was also the best among all teams, in contrast to the third-placed team, which managed only 18 goals.

Owner Larsing Ming Sawyan expressed immense pride in head coach Birendra Thapa and the team, highlighting their remarkable achievement of competing effectively in a league traditionally dominated by foreign players.

"The Indian Football League has historically been influenced by foreign signings, and teams that invest heavily in foreign talent tend to excel. However, this all-Indian squad of 2026 has defied expectations and shattered the norms of Indian football," Ming stated.

Midfielder Phrangki Buam earned the title of the league's Most Valuable Player, a recognition typically awarded to foreign players, finishing as the second-highest scorer with eight goals. Everbrightson Sana Mylliempdah followed closely with seven goals, securing third place in the scoring rankings.

"In my view, we played the most attractive and technically proficient football in the league. I am proud of the boys," Ming remarked.

He also acknowledged the unwavering support from the club's fans and the assistance from Meghalaya's Chief Minister Conrad Sangma's CM Football Mission, emphasizing that such backing was crucial for their success.

“I want to extend my gratitude to the Lajong Faithfuls for their steadfast support, not just this year but even during challenging times. You are the driving force behind Lajong,” he added.

Ming expressed appreciation to Paul Lyngdoh for securing the club's first government sponsorship three years ago, and to Vijay Kumar for his behind-the-scenes contributions, as well as to Wailadmiki Shylla, now the sports minister, who has been a long-time supporter of local football.

Looking ahead, the club owner stated that Lajong's broader goal is to establish a football academy modeled after FC Barcelona's La Masia, a vision that was temporarily sidelined when the team was promoted to the I-League in the 2022-23 season, necessitating a shift in investment towards the first team.

"Our primary aim remains to develop a center of excellence for football. We now understand what we can achieve," Ming concluded.