Will Lajong be forced to play away from home?

Not only Shillong, not only Meghalaya but the whole Northeast was overjoyed last week when Lajong SC qualified for the I-League's Premier Division. But might the pride of Meghalaya be forced to play their home matches away from home, away from Shillong?

If the current state of infrastructure in Shillong is taken into account then the AIFF will be forced to ask Lajong to play their home matches somewhere else.

The main Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium nor the alternative SSA First Division Ground are upto the necessary standard. The grounds would need overall redeveloped be it the pitch and also the stands otherwise the football fans in Shillong could be deprived of I-League football.

And what could be the alternative? The first option would be Guwahati, which isn't to far away. Guwahati's Nehru Stadium isn't the best of options but then there is the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium build for the National Games which is a top class venue.

But the advantage of playing at home would be lost.

Then there is the problem of connectivity. Shillong does not have an airport, so visiting teams would have to fly into the Assam capital Guwahati and then take a bus, which takes about three hour for the 100 plus kilometres to reach Shillong.