Royal Wahingdoh F.C.

Royal Wahinghdoh F.C.
Full name Royal Wahingdoh Football Club
Nickname(s) Royals
Founded 1946 (1946)
Ground Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,[1] Shillong
Ground Capacity 24,000[2]
Owner Royal Wahingdoh Sports Club Pvt. Ltd.
Chairman Domnic Tariang
Manager India Santosh Kashyap
League Shillong Premier League
Website Club home page

Royal Wahingdoh Football Club is a men's professional football club based in Shillong, Meghalaya that participates in the Indian I-League. Royal Wahingdoh F.C. holds the record for the highest number of consecutive Shillong Premier League titles, having won the finals in December 2010, 2011 and in 2012. They played in I-League 2nd Division for the 2013-14 season. They won the league by defeating Bhowanipore F.C. in the last match of the league and qualified to play for the 2014-15 season of the I-League.

History

1946-2010

Founded in 1946 as the Wahingdoh Sports Club, the club won numerous titles. However, with changing times and professionalisation, the amateur club began to face some amount of difficulty competing with younger clubs and it was then, that the decline began.

In 2007, Wahingdoh Sports Club was almost relegated to the 2nd Division League and as a result of inconsistent performance, the Wahingdoh community felt the need for a younger and more innovative approach.

In 2008, the club turned professional when it merged with Royal Football Club before being renamed Royal Wahingdoh FC under the able leadership of the club's owner Dominic Sutnga Tariang. With the club witnessing several dramatic changes, a new chapter was in the making and in the very same year, the club bounced back to claim Third spot in the 2nd Div Regional League, a sign that brought hope for a brighter future.

In the First Division 2009 season they established a record by winning all their games besides scoring 52 goals en route to lifting the title and along with it, an entry into the top tier of Meghalaya football, "The Shillong Premiere League."

Royal Wahingdoh FC is Shillong's Champion Club. In the 2010 season, they lifted the Shillong Premier League - in their debut season.[3]

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Period Kit manufacturer Shirt Sponsor
2006– Uhlsport Imperial Blue

2011 Season

In 2011, it was announced that Royal Wahingdoh FC would join the newly re-done I-League 2nd Division. The club appointed UEFA Pro Licence holder Volker Hofferbert as its head coach while Carlton Chapman and newly appointed coach from Manipur, Nandakumar Singh have been assigned the roles of assistant coaches.[4][5] They won their opening match 3–1. They won their second match against Chandini FC 3-0. They won the third match 2-1 and fourth match 3-1 against Vasco SC.[6] They won their fifth match in row against Eagles FC 3-2.Currently they have the longest winning streak in 2011 I-League 2nd Division. They won all their matches in Group C and qualified to 2011 I-League 2nd Division Final Round. Royal started their final round in by losing two and drawing one out of the 3 games played. After six rounds in final round, they won one match and lost 3 of them and are in 5th position with 5 points.

Royal Wahingdoh have also entered into the Federation Cup 2011 season, topping the group during the qualifying round with wins in all their matches and faced Mohan Bagan in their first match. RWFC beat Mohun Bagan 2-1 courtesy a brace from Chenco. This was followed by a 2–1 win over Churchill Bros FC. However, the Royals lost to local rivals Shillong Lajong FC in the final group match and though both Shillong teams ended up with 6 points, it was Lajong that progressed on the head-to-head rule.

2012 Season

Royal Wahingdoh F.C. qualified for the final round of the 2012 I-league 2nd Division. During the preliminary phase, they won 5 matches and drew 2 of their games. In the final round, the team fielded four foreigners against ONGC F.C. which the club claimed was an 'honest' blunder. According to AIFF rules, no side can field more than three foreigners at a time. They won the match 4-1, but the game was eventually awarded 3-0 to ONGC F.C. .[7]

The 'Royals,' as they are fondly referred to by fans, secured their third successive Shillong Premier League title, which is a new record. The final was won 3-1 against Rangdajied United F.C. who fielded their first side including Babatunde, Jeribe, Enyinnaya and Argha. In the match, the scores were locked at 1-1 after regulation time with Beekay being RWFC's lone goal scorer. Babatunde headed in an equaliser in the second half to put his side in contention. However, it was the extra time goals by Chencho and Milancy that did it for the 'Royals' and in the process, hand them their third successive finals win.[8]

2014 Season

Royal Wahingdoh won 2014 I-League 2nd Division and will be promoted to 2014–15 I-League. The club has also appointed Santosh Kashyap as their Manager for the upcoming I-League season [9]

2014-15 Season

Royal finished a 3rd in I-league. Giving India football team players like Jackichand Singh, Reagan Singh, Satiyasen Singh.

2015-16 Season

Though the club was granted national license to compete in 2015–16 I-League, they decided to pull out, citing lack of clear roadmap for the league as the reason. The club had earlier failed to comply with AFC licensing criteria as their home stadium did not adhere to the credentials.[10][11][12] The club continues to participate in other tournaments; State League and the AIFF organised youth league tournaments (U-15 & U-18 leagues).[13]

Players

Current squad

As of 31 March 2015[14]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 India GK Nikhil Bernard
2 India MF Marlanki Suting
4 India DF Bowari Khongstia
5 India DF Ningthoujam Samananda
6 India DF C Lallawmzuala
7 India MF Malsawmtluanga
8 India MF Godwin Franco
9 India MF Nabachandra Singh
10 India FW Jackichand Singh
11 India FW Satiyasen Singh
12 India DF Reagan Singh
13 India MF Loken Meitei
14 India MF Milancy Khongstia
15 India MF Sushil Meitei
No. Position Player
16 India DF Kilp Barfungpa
18 Liberia FW Bekay Bewar
19 India DF Lalchhawnkima
17 India FW Nagen Tamang
20 Nigeria DF Loveday Enyinnaya
21 Trinidad and Tobago MF Densill Theobald
22 India GK Prem Kumar Singh
24 India DF Lalhmangaihsanga
25 India FW Nadong Bhutia
27 India DF Govin Singh
29 India DF Ngouba Singh
30 India GK Bishorjit Singh
32 India DF Naoba Singh

References

  1. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 26 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Stadions - I-League - India - Resultaten, programma's, standen en nieuws - Soccerway". Nl.soccerway.com. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2011.
  4. ↑ "Royal Wahingdoh FC appoint German coach Volker Hofferbert as head coach". Goal.com. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  5. ↑ "German coach for Wahingdoh". Telegraphindia.com. 2012-06-23. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  6. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2011.
  7. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  8. ↑ "Shillong Premier League | Shillong Sports Association". Shillongsa.com. 2014-06-20. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  9. ↑ "ROYAL WAHINGDOH ARE SECOND DIVISION CHAMPIONS". I-League. 11 April 2014.
  10. ↑ "Royal mess: Wahingdoh too pulls out of I-League". indianexpress.com. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  11. ↑ "Shillong-based Royal Wahingdoh becomes third club to drop out of I-League". firstpost.com. 22 November 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  12. ↑ "Royal Wahingdoh is the latest team to pull out of I-League". dnaindia.com. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  13. ↑ "Indian Football - Kushal Das: 'Facts misinterpreted by PIL litigants on closure of I-League clubs'". goal.com. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  14. ↑ "India - Royal Wahingdoh FC - Results, fixtures, squad, statistics, photos, videos and news - Soccerway". Int.soccerway.com. 2013-01-09. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
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