Langsning FC announced two major developments, with Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh taking over as coach of the senior team

Langsning Reveal Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh as New Coach; Club to Target I-League Again Shillong, July 22: Langsning FC announced two major developments, with Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh taking over as coach of the senior team from Hering Shangpliang. The club also announced that it would once again attempt to qualify for the I-League through the Second Division League. Syiemlieh, an AFC A Licence holder, has a long association with Langsning, having previously played for the club. He also served as an assistant coach under L. Darlong in 2008. He subsequently had a long association with Rangdajied United FC and a brief spell with Ryntih SC before leading Mawlai SC to the Shillong Premier League championship in 2022. Alongside his club career, Syiemlieh has remained an official with the Sports & Youth Affairs Department and has coached Meghalaya state football teams, including the side that finished runners-up in the Santosh Trophy earlier in 2023. Syiemlieh’s appointment marked the beginning of a new era for Langsning and the end of Shangpliang’s long tenure as head coach. Shangpliang had guided the club to back-to-back Shillong Premier League titles in 2017 and 2018. It was also under Shangpliang that Langsning last attempted to qualify for the I-League. Their Second Division campaign in 2018 ended in the group stage. Langsning had made previous attempts to reach the I-League but had fallen short, while three other Shillong-based clubs—Shillong Lajong FC, Rangdajied United FC and Royal Wahingdoh FC—had successfully reached the national league. The immediate focus, however, was on the Shillong Premier League 2023. After winning two consecutive titles, Langsning finished fourth in 2019 and third in 2022. The club had also failed to progress beyond the group stage of the 2023 Meghalaya State League, where they were drawn in the same group as Syiemlieh’s Mawlai. Mawlai eventually reached the semifinals before being eliminated. Source: The Sports Room, July 22, 2023.