I-League aspirant, Ryntih Sports Club from Meghalaya discussed with Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and sought his help in pushing the club to get through to the I-League in the upcoming season.
The football club presented the chief minister and sports minister, Banteidor Lyngdoh the club’s official jersey as a gift.
During the meeting, the Chief Minister was briefed by officials of the football club about the bidding process where Ryntih Sports Club had joined as one of the three bidders for direct entry into the I-League.
Earlier this year, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) had invited bids for a new team in the I-League for 2020-2021 season following the exit of Mohun Bagan who merged with ISL outfit ATK to play in the ISL
However, the AIFF Bid Evaluation Committee had chosen Delhi-based Sudeva FC as the winner for direct entry into the I-League.
Sreenidhi FC from Visakhapatnam was also awarded the right to take part in the I-League, but from 2021-22 season onwards.
With East Bengal moving out of the I-League to play in the ISL, one more vacancy is available in the I-League at present.
Ryntih Sports Club managing director, Wallamkupar Kharpran informed that the Chief Minister has assured to take the matter at the earliest and discuss with the AIFF.
“The Chief Minister has assured to push to the hardest from his level and talk to the AIFF president as well on this matter,” Kharpran said, adding that the club wanted to be in the I-League and ready to play.
There has been a lot of expectation that Meghalaya’s name would once again enter the Indian football map had Ryntih been selected for direct entry into the prestigious I-League this season.
Shillong Lajong FC, the first football club from Meghalaya to play in the I-League.
Ryntih, meaning ‘discipline,’ registered officially as a society in 1998, with a focus to open up avenues in football for budding talents of Mawlai Mawdatbaki locality in Shillong city.
Ryntih, have been playing in the top football league of Meghalaya the Shillong Premier League of the Shillong Sports Association, besides playing in the first division and second division football league for several years.
In the last season, Ryntih missed by a few points to clinch the Shillong Premier League title and came third.
Ryntih had fulfilled the criteria related to international tie-up as they signed an MoU with the Transport United FC from Bhutan.
Transport United FC is a professional football club from Thimphu, Bhutan, currently playing in the Bhutan Premier League, the top level of football in Bhutan.
