I-League 2 - Final Round: A Preview

The final round of the 2nd Division I-League will be held from April 25 to May 14 in Shillong. Eight clubs will be fighting it out for the two promotion spots with two teams seeded into the final round while six teams came through the qualifiers.

And it could be one of the most interesting final rounds in the 2nd Division I-League ever then all the eight participating teams have a chance to go through and the first two/three matches could decide who will get promoted to the I-League.

Sporting Clube de Goa and Shillong Lajong FC were relegated last year from the I-League, so they were given a bye into the final round; but this might be a drawback now as these sides have not had much competitive match action recently. Sporting Clube did beat Shillong Lajong 4-0 in the final of the Abhijit Kadam Memorial Tournament in Pune and Lajong reached the semifinals of the IFA Shield both last month, but otherwise it was friendly matches for these two sides.

The danger is also that three local Shillong sides will be taking part in the final round. Lajong do not have a monopoly this time around as Royal Wahingdoh SC and Ar-Hima FC are also looking to make it to the I-League, while Baichung Bhutia co-owned United Sikkim FC will also have its Northeast support. And the organisers are a little tense if everything will as per plans, so they have issued warnings of no incidences at the grounds or otherwise the AIFF could change the venue of the final round.

Four teams have premier division experience in Sporting Clube, Lajong, Mohammedan Sporting Club and Vasco SC; while United Sikkim FC, Southern Samity, Royal Wahingdoh SC and Ar-Hima FC are newcomers to the 2nd Division altogether. And such crucial, often close matches could be won on experience and there some sides have an advantage. Another factor could be the seven matches in a three/four day rhythm which could test the bench strengths of the eight teams.

Especially Royal Wahingdoh FC and Ar-Hima FC have shown that being young and inexperienced, but talented does not have to be a draw back. The question is if these sides will be able to perform at home or if the pressure will get to them which wasn't there in the qualifiers.

Picking favourites to get promoted is really difficult but I would still mention Sporting Clube, Lajong FC and Mohammedan Sporting are my top three contenders with real chances to the rest of the five teams. I look forward to an interesting three weeks of 2nd Division football.


2nd Division I-League - Final Round:

- Sporting Clube de Goa (last year I-League)
- Shillong Lajong FC (last year I-League)
- United Sikkim FC (Winners Group A)
- Southern Samity, Kolkata (Runners-up Group A)
- Mohammedan Sporting Club, Kolkata (Winners Group B)
- Ar-Hima FC, Shillong (Runners-up Group B)
- Royal Wahingdoh FC, Shillong (Winners Group C)
- Vasco SC, Goa (Runners-up Group C)