Royal Wahingdoh finish 13th in South African U-17 meet

Moiangthem Meitei (No.10) equalised for Royal Wahingdoh in the 13th place playoffPhoto Credit: Future Champions

Shillong’s Royal Wahingdoh finished 13th among 16 teams at the 2014 Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament, a competition comprising Under-17 teams from all over the world.

The Future Champions project began in South Africa in 2009 during the build up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. This year it was held in March 24-29 at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto, South Africa with U-17 sides of Sunderland, Atletico Mineiro (Brazil), ADO Den Haag (Netherlands) among the participants.

Royal Wahingdoh was placed in Group D alongside Sunderland, United States Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns. Wahingdoh held USYSA and Sunderland to 1-1 and 0-0 draws respectively but lost 3-0 against Mamelodi Sundowns to finish bottom of the group

The Indian club then defeated South Africa’s SuperSport United on penalties to set up a 13th place playoff clash against former winners Shandong Luneng of China on Saturday.

Shandong took the lead but Moiangthem Meitei equalised for Wahingdoh and then the Shillong outfit went on to win 4-3 on penalties.