The Guwahati franchise of the Indian
Super League owned by Bollywood superstar John Abraham and I-League team
Shillong Lajong , was named North East United FC and will play their
home matches in the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium , also known as the
Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati. The stadium is currently under renovation
to increase the capacity from 12,000 to 35,000 , it has previously
played host to a Indian National team match vs Malaysia.
North East United FC
North East United FC made a policy of
signing young players and mostly from the North-Eastern region.They have
retained a set of 14 players from their tie-up with I-League club
Shillong Lajong and with an average age of 21.32 , is the youngest squad
in the Indian Soccer League ,amongst the 8 franchises ,with the
international player draft yet to take place. As said by the Owner John
Abraham
“We have put success secondary. We are concentrating on grassroots. We know that India would be hosting the U-17 World Cup in 2017. We want to concentrate on the young talent. We have got a very formidable U-19 team in Shillong Lajong,which is our partner.”
On 16th July,2014 it was announced that
the club had roped in 2010 Fifa World Cup winner Joan Capdevila .The 36
year old former Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Espanyol player has
played more than 400 games in La-Liga. Playing alongside the Spanish
veteran will be a great experience for the likes of Robin Gurung,
Zohmingliana Ralte and Pritam Kumar.
Goalkeepers -Rehnesh TP and Kunzang Bhutia
Rehenesh Thumbirumbu Paramba , the 21
year old Shillong Lajong Goalkeeper who made a name for himself during
the 2012-13 season , playing for ONGC has played for the likes of ONGC
,Mumbai Tigers and Rangdajied United FC. He will be the Clubs first
choice goalkeeper . Kunzang Bhutia who has also been roped in by North
East United FC , is a 20 year old goalkeeper making his way into the
first team at Shillong Lajong. The Sikkimese Goalkeeper is an Shillong
Lajong academy product and will add depth to the Goalkeeping position at
North East United FC.
Defender – Joan Capdevilla, Zohmingliana Ralte, Aiborlang Khongjee, Robin Gurung and Pritam Kumar Singh.
Joan Capdevilla – The Marquee Player for North East United
The Franchise roped in Joan Capdevilla
and the Spanish world cup winner will have a huge impact on the Squad ,
not only on the pitch but off the pitch as well .On the field we know
what to expect from the 36 year old Left back and off the pitch he will
be having a major impact in teaching young academy graduates of Shillong
Lajong as well as the likes of Zohmingliana Ralte and Aiborlang
Khongjee. His vast experience and knowledge will help the players
improve their overall game. The Franchise signed Zohmingliana Ralte or
Zotea as he is fondly known . The Pune FC central defender and former
Mohun Bagan academy and Rangdajeid United FC academy product is someone
who gives his 110 % every time he enters the pitch and a brilliant.
Zohmingliana will be paired with Aiborlang Khongjee in the centre of
defense.
Aiborlang first came into the spotlight
playing the Subroto Cup for his school-Raidlaban High School. He Joined
SAI in Shillong and then after a year at SAI moved to Shillong Lajong.
He was signed by Kingfisher East Bengal in 2007 however an injury hit
season saw him move back to former side Shillong Lajong .In 2007 he was
made club captain and remained at Shillong Lajong for 5 years before
moving to Kolkata once again but this time to East Bengal’s rivals Mohun
Bagan.The 2012-13 season saw the defender notch up 40 appearances for
the Green and Maroons and then the following season he returned to
Shillong. Robin Gurung , the 21 year old defender joins North East
United FC after having a successful spell at ONGC and Shillong Lajong
and will add depth alongside Shillong Lajong team-mate Pritam Kumar
Singh.
Midfielders – Milan Singh, Jibon Singh, Boithang Haokip ,Alen Deory and Isaac Chansa .
North East United FC recruited all its
midfielders from Shillong Lajong. The likes of Milan Singh , Jibon Singh
and Boithang Haokip all play alongside each other in the I-League and
it will be interesting to see them perform in the ISL together. With the
understanding expected to be good among them a lot is expected from the
young Midfielders . Milan Singh started his career at East Bengal and
then moved to Pailan Arrows and remained there for 3 years (2010-2013)
.On 2013 he signed for Shillong Lajong and he has had a impressive
2013-14 season playing 19 times and scoring two goals for the Shillong
outfit. Jibon Singh followed the same career route as Milan Singh, the
24 year old midfielder was first signed by East Bengal after which the
player to moved to the Arrows team and in 2012 season signed for
Shillong Lajong.
Zambian midfielder Isaac Chansa
Midfielder Boithang Haokip however has
been at Shillong for his entire career , he graduated to the senior
squad in the 2011-12 season and has since made 56 senior team
appearances scoring 11 goals in the process. Midfielder Alan Deory has
been signed by North East United FC from the AIFF U-19 Elite academy in
Goa to strengthen the midfield area and add depth to the squad. On 11th
August Shillong Lajong officially completed its signing of Zambian
midfielder, Isaac Chansa and announced that he would be a part of the
North East United contingent. The midfielder who has plied his trade in
Sweden,South Africa ,Zambia and China will add more experience to this
young squad.The midfielder was also an integral part of the Zambian
National team , that won the Africa cup of nations in 2012. He has a
habit of scoring goals from midfield and his signing will definitely add
more goals to this squad.
Forwards – Seminlen Doungel , Durga Boro and Cornell Glen
North East United FC have signed an
attacking trio all from Shillong Lajong, Seminlen Doungel the JCT youth
product, who has signed for Shillong for the 2014 season from East
Bengal is a gifted attacker and is known for his ability to score goals
at regular intervals . Doungel in his 3 years at East Bengal , scored 4
goals in 21 appearances .Durga Boro , a former Mumbai Tigers player who
joined Shillong Lajong on February 2014 on loan as Mumbai Tigers closed
down and the North East United FC Franchise recruited him as a part of
the recruitment process that saw maximum players from the North East
play for the Franchise.
Durga Boro and Seminlen Doungel will be
joined at North East United FC by Cornell Glen ,their new team-mate at
Shillong Lajong; The Trinidad and Tobago striker who is the first
foreign player in the ISL to have played in India before the ISL joins
North East United FC with a reputation of a prolific goalscorer. The
Striker joined Shillong Lajong last year on a 2 year contract and scored
13 goals in the League to finish as the joint second top scorer.
Cornell Glen is the all time 5th highest scorer for his country , ahead
of Dwight Yorke . He played an important part during his country’s World
Cup Campaign in 2006 , in which he earned praises for his performances
against Sweden and England .
The North East United FC Franchise’s
efforts to play more local youngsters from the North East region and
make a team that will help the country, in future has to be applauded
.The AIFF planned this tournament so that the Indian Players could get
more exposure to play against and with big names and North East United
FC have done just that by promoting local youngsters to the big stage.
They might just surprise everyone and are surely of the Dark Horses of
the ISL .