Shillong, August 5: Nongkseh Sports Social & Cultural Club may have lost their opening Durand Cup match against Shillong Lajong FC, but July 31, 2026, will remain a landmark day in the club’s history as captain Hardy Cliff Nongbri led his hometown team onto one of Indian football’s biggest stages.
Nongkseh suffered a 0-2 defeat to the experienced Shillong side in their opening Group E fixture of the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup. However, the result did little to overshadow the club’s remarkable journey from the lower divisions of Meghalaya football to India’s oldest football tournament.
For the 29-year-old Nongbri, the match marked another significant chapter in a career that began on the rough football grounds of his village in Meghalaya. “I started playing football when I was around seven or eight years old with my friends in our village. We did not have professional facilities or expensive equipment, but our passion for the game was enough,” Nongbri recalled. He said playing on uneven village grounds taught him discipline, teamwork and the importance of perseverance.
Nongbri’s first major breakthrough came in 2009 when he was selected for the Meghalaya Under-13 team following an impressive performance in a district tournament. He later joined the Sports Authority of India Training Centre in Shillong before becoming part of Shillong Lajong’s youth system in 2011. Over the years, he developed into one of Meghalaya’s dependable defenders and eventually earned a place in Shillong Lajong’s senior I-League squad. He also captained the club during successful campaigns.
Nongbri said experienced Meghalaya players such as Aiborlang Khongjee and Rokus Lamare played an important role in shaping his football career. “I admired players like Aiborlang Khongjee and Rokus Lamare. Watching the way they trained and played inspired me a lot,” he said.
Despite having established himself with Shillong Lajong, Nongbri decided to join Nongkseh ahead of the 2025 season after being convinced by club president Daniel M. Thangkhiew’s long-term vision. “The president shared his vision with me. He did not want Nongkseh to remain just another club playing in Shillong. He wanted to build the club step by step—from I-League 3 to I-League 2 and hopefully one day the ISL. That vision matched mine,” Nongbri said.
He said the decision was made after discussions with his family, who supported his move. Instead of seeing Nongkseh as a step backwards, Nongbri viewed it as an opportunity to help build a competitive football club from the ground up. The move has already produced results. During a remarkable season, Nongkseh won four trophies, including the fifth Meghalaya State League, the 2025 Shillong Sports Association Champions Cup and the All India Chief Minister’s Gold Cup in Sikkim.
The club also recorded victories over established teams such as NEROCA FC, Red Panda FC and BSF Jalandhar. “Winning the Chief Minister’s Gold Cup means the most to me. It is a prestigious tournament, and winning it with Nongkseh made it very special,” Nongbri said.
He credited the club’s progress to the collective mentality of the players and the guidance of the coaching staff. “We have very good players and a very good coach. Every tournament gave us confidence. Beating teams like NEROCA showed us that we deserved to compete at this level,” he said.
The club’s success eventually earned it an invitation to participate in the 135th IndianOil Durand Cup. Although this is Nongbri’s third Durand Cup appearance after previously representing Shillong Lajong, he said captaining Nongkseh in the tournament carried a different emotional significance. “I am very happy that Nongkseh has been invited to be part of the Durand Cup. Football fans across Shillong and the villages are excited because the tournament is coming here again, and we are proud to represent them,” he said.
Nongbri stressed that Nongkseh’s identity remained deeply connected to the local community. “It is not just a community we represent. We are a family that fights for everything—for the fans and for Nongkseh. Every player gives 100 per cent for this club,” he said. The community spirit has helped transform Nongkseh from a traditional local club into one of Meghalaya’s fastest-rising football teams.
The defeat against Shillong Lajong may have delayed Nongkseh’s search for their first Durand Cup points, but it has not affected the club’s long-term plans. Nongkseh will next face Langsning FC in another Group E encounter on August 6, providing the club with another opportunity to prove itself against a leading Meghalaya side.
For Nongbri, the ambition extends far beyond one tournament. “My main target is to take Nongkseh higher. Step by step, we want to reach I-League 3, then I-League 2, and one day the ISL. That is my dream,” he said. Having chosen to help build a football project in his own community, Nongbri believes Nongkseh’s journey from village football to the Durand Cup is only the beginning.
