Royal Wahingdoh football club, a club wholly owned by Dominic Sutnga, will be absorbed and form a part of Shillong United FC. After this merger, all assets of Royal Wahingdoh FC will transfer to Shillong United FC, which shall entail registered football players (developmental and professional), employed staff (technical, administrative etc.) as well as all other tangible and intangible assets, a statement by the club said.
“Shillong United football club will continue in the footsteps of Royal Wahingdoh football club and look to promote, develop and professionally engage football players to play in football tournaments organised by the Shillong Sports Association, namely Under-18 Shillong Premier League and Shillong Premier League (Senior Division),” the statement further said.
Royal Wahingdoh FC’s biggest achievement had been its ability to produce players who have gone onto represent the Indian National Team. The development structure was instrumental in producing national and regional sporting icons like Jackichand Singh, Seityasen Singh, Sena Ralte, Reagan Singh and Lalchawnkima.
The youth structure of the club has also been heavily involved in providing opportunities for local players to train abroad, such as Badonlang Rapsang who was selected to train for 6 years with TSG Hoffenheim’s academy in Germany as was Kynsailang Khongsit who went for an exposure trip to Spain to train under the tutelage of coaches from the Real Madrid CF and the Spanish Football Federation.
In terms of club laurels, Royal Wahingdoh FC finished third in their maiden season (2015) in the I-League, above the likes of Dempo, Sporting Goa and East Bengal. They had made their way to top division after winning the 2nd Division on the back of an unbeaten season. The club had also won three consecutive Shillong Premier League titles from 2010 to 2012 and had some strong showings for a regional club during the 2011 Federation Cup where they defeated Indian powerhouses Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan AC.
RWFC had also won regional tournaments such as Bordoloi Trophy and the Sati Raja Trophy.
Royal Wahingdoh FC ultimately pulled out of the I-League before the start of their second season, citing a lack of concrete sporting structure in the country which it considered imperative for sustainable and wholesome development of the sport. However, the club did not fold its youth development program and continued to train and play in the Under-16 and Under-18 I-League, where it reached the final rounds for both tournaments, as well as the Under-18 and Senior divisions of the Shillong Premier League.
“Other than the assets, Royal Wahingdoh FC is most importantly transferring the philosophy, endearment and relentless intent to develop the sport to Shillong United FC. Shillong United FC will look for partners within the Northeast region with a similar ideology and continue the development of football in the country,” the statement said.
