HERO I-LEAGUE

    

Royal Wahingdoh and its cinderella men

stands, Wahingdoh are starting to feel the heat. The fans sink into their seats as their team retreats deep into their own half.

It’s going to be a long evening for the Shillong side.

* * *

A little more than a year ago, on a rather cool afternoon on April 14, 2014, they were all in a festive mood at the Wahingdoh community hall in Shillong. Three days back, Royal Wahingdoh had earned qualification to the I-League by defeating Bhawanipore FC 3-2 in the second division I-League decider.

Speakers blared out folk songs as the players danced and sang along with the fans. They were paraded through the streets of Shillong. Autographs were signed and photographs clicked.

On the stage, a politician got hold of the mike. “We are the third side from Shillong to qualify for the I-League,” he began. “Who knows, maybe we will become the first side from Shillong to win the championship!” he said, generating loud cheers from the hundreds crammed inside the tiny hall.

Who would have thought his prophecy would come true so soon?

* * *

They have made it a habit to defy the odds. Wahingdoh Sports Club had been in existence since 1946 but was amateur in its functioning. Poorly administered and lacking ambition, they were overshadowed by bigger and better managed clubs in the region, especially Shillong Lajong, Lansing SC and, of late, Rangdajied United. Battling an uncertain future, they faced the ignominy of being relegated to the lower divisions of the regional league in Shillong.

In their bid to survive and succeed, Wahingdoh community leaders decided to merge with another local club, Royals FC, in 2008. Dominic Sutnga, who owns a liquor retail business, bankrolled Royal Wahingdoh. The influx of money and proper system resulted in their fortunes turning dramatically and soon, they were an unstoppable force, winning the Shillong Premier League three times in a row.

With regional dominance secured, it was now time to shift focus to the national scene. They entered the I-League second division and in 2012, nearly made it. Wahingdoh were cruising along, starting strongly and after four matches, were level on points with ONGC. The two sides met on March 16, 2012 with the winner assured of promotion.

From the first whistle, Wahingdoh were in control. They were leading 4-1 and appeared to be cruising until deep into injury time, when their coach and former India midfielder Carlton Chapman decided to make a substitution. But even before the player could take his position on the field, Chapman turned towards the stands with head buried in his hands and helplessly looked at the management. He knew he had committed a huge error.

The AIFF rules permitted just three foreigners on field at a given time and by making the substitution, Wahingdoh now had four. “It was an innocent mistake,” a club official says. “The substitute came on just for final few minutes and did not impact the result of the match. We were already leading 4-1.” The AIFF had a different view, though. The result stands, Wahingdoh are starting to feel the heat. The fans sink into their seats as their team retreats deep into their own half.

It’s going to be a long evening for the Shillong side.

* * *

A little more than a year ago, on a rather cool afternoon on April 14, 2014, they were all in a festive mood at the Wahingdoh community hall in Shillong. Three days back, Royal Wahingdoh had earned qualification to the I-League by defeating Bhawanipore FC 3-2 in the second division I-League decider.

Speakers blared out folk songs as the players danced and sang along with the fans. They were paraded through the streets of Shillong. Autographs were signed and photographs clicked.

On the stage, a politician got hold of the mike. “We are the third side from Shillong to qualify for the I-League,” he began. “Who knows, maybe we will become the first side from Shillong to win the championship!” he said, generating loud cheers from the hundreds crammed inside the tiny hall.

Who would have thought his prophecy would come true so soon?

* * *

They have made it a habit to defy the odds. Wahingdoh Sports Club had been in existence since 1946 but was amateur in its functioning. Poorly administered and lacking ambition, they were overshadowed by bigger and better managed clubs in the region, especially Shillong Lajong, Lansing SC and, of late, Rangdajied United. Battling an uncertain future, they faced the ignominy of being relegated to the lower divisions of the regional league in Shillong.

In their bid to survive and succeed, Wahingdoh community leaders decided to merge with another local club, Royals FC, in 2008. Dominic Sutnga, who owns a liquor retail business, bankrolled Royal Wahingdoh. The influx of money and proper system resulted in their fortunes turning dramatically and soon, they were an unstoppable force, winning the Shillong Premier League three times in a row.

With regional dominance secured, it was now time to shift focus to the national scene. They entered the I-League second division and in 2012, nearly made it. Wahingdoh were cruising along, starting strongly and after four matches, were level on points with ONGC. The two sides met on March 16, 2012 with the winner assured of promotion.

From the first whistle, Wahingdoh were in control. They were leading 4-1 and appeared to be cruising until deep into injury time, when their coach and former India midfielder Carlton Chapman decided to make a substitution. But even before the player could take his position on the field, Chapman turned towards the stands with head buried in his hands and helplessly looked at the management. He knew he had committed a huge error.

The AIFF rules permitted just three foreigners on field at a given time and by making the substitution, Wahingdoh now had four. “It was an innocent mistake,” a club official says. “The substitute came on just for final few minutes and did not impact the result of the match. We were already leading 4-1.” The AIFF had a different view, though. The result 

ROYAL WAHINGDOH SETTLES A DRAW WITH FEISTY MUMBAI FC

SHILLONG: A feisty Mumbai FC were able to hold Royal Wahingdoh FC to a 1-1 draw on the latter’s home turf here on Sunday.

The visitors opened the scoring in the 23rd minute through a Josimar header which silenced the 13,000-plus crowd, while Kim Song Yong responded with a header of his own in the second half to secure one point for Wahingdoh.

The Royals did not look as smooth in their style of play and although they had the majority of the possession throughout the game, they were unable to break down the Mumbai defence for the most part.

MFC were able to script a few early opportunities but could not execute effectively, with Josimar operating alone up at front.

In the first 20 minutes the hosts had a couple of chances, with Kim’s shot on goal in the ninth minute going wide as he was slightly off balance and Jackichand Singh’s attempt 10 minutes later just going over the bar.

Shots over the crossbar were a feature of this game, with Wahingdoh responsible for more than their fair share.

Mumbai opened the scoring after earning a throw-in on the right, which led to a cross for Josimar in the box. The tall Brazilian had absolutely no trouble in executing, putting his team into the lead.

For around five minutes after the half-hour mark RWFC pushed the visitors back, but each of their four attacks came to nothing, either because of excellent defence or wayward shot taking.

It was more of the same in the last five minutes of play with Bekay Bawar and Jacki shooting over the bar and straight to the keeper, respectively.

The second session started with the hosts looking for that equaliser and Kim came to the rescue in the 59th minute, getting the better of his mark in the jump and leading to his header beating Mumbai keeper Nidhin Lal.

Mumbai were not lying down either, and an attack by them two minutes later needed Wahingdoh goalkeeper Nikhil Bernard pulling off a tremendous save. He was called on again in the 67th minute to make a spectacular save after the visitors had won another corner.

Furious attacking action from Royal Wahingdoh saw their opponents defending with equal determination and the Mumbai boys can take a lot of pride in the way that they held off the home team, who had almost all of the momentum in the last 10 minutes.

The last real action saw Reagan Singh attempt a long shot on goal from a free kick, but Nidhin Lal was able to tip it over the bar and the match ended 1-1 with both teams sharing a point each.