Table of Contents
Introduction
Bobby Nongbet is regarded as one of the best coaches of Meghalaya football. He is an AFC-A license coach & is widely respected for his ability to produce quality footballers from youth. Bobby Nongbet got the award of the best young coach from the Indian Football Coaches’ Association after Shillong Lajong FC won the Under-18 Youth I-League in 2018. Under his training, the club won Youth I-League in 2011 and placed third in the Under-20 I-league also.
Bobby remembering the past, stated,
“But before winning Youth I-league in 2019, we had a huge experience when we reached the world finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup and played against teams like Paris St. Germain and Newcastle United. But I still cherish our championship title in Under-18 Youth I-league most.”
Bobby Nongbet’s Tough Days
Bobby joined Shillong Lajong FC in 2005. But in 2012, he left Lajong & returned after Desmond Bulpin’s contract was terminated. Since then under Bobby’s tutelage, Lajong FC academy has been producing several footballers who have represented Meghalaya and India in different age groups.
But the disaster came in 2019 when the academy had to be stopped and all the boys were released after the Covid-19 pandemic. Bobby recalled,
“It was almost impossible to regroup boys when the academy resumed at the end of 2021. Still following the club directors’ willingness, we built up a team comprising all inexperienced under-15 and under-17 boys and participated in the Meghalaya State League (MSL). Naturally, we did not perform well. But our relentless effort as well as the boys’ passion and dedication helped us to prosper.”
Bobby Nongbet’s Dream Fulfilled
Under Bobby Nongbet’s coaching, Lajong FC senior team has earned qualification for the elite I-league next year with a 2-1 victory against Bengaluru United in the crucial match of I-league qualifiers on 21st May. Bobby stated,
“This has been the first time, a senior team under my coaching achieved the feat. Despite being a youth development coach, I dreamt of winning a senior-level competition as a coach and that was fulfilled. I get more satisfaction that all the boys who took the team to the elite I-league were all from the academy.”
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