Soft-spoken and humble, the first thing you notice about former footballer Eugeneson Lyngdoh is his unassuming nature. When t2 travelled to Shillong with Reliance Foundation Development League, the 39-year-old, who retired four years ago and has played for India, East Bengal, Bengaluru FC and Pune City, among others, sat down to talk football, his childhood and more. He was the AIFF (All India Football Federation) Men's Player of the Year in 2015 and won the Indian Federation Cup with Bengaluru FC in 2017. In 2015, he was part of the SAFF Championship winning team.
Eugeneson is actively involved in running Rangdajied United Football Club, which his father founded and which was formerly known as Ar-Hima. The club is based in Mawngap-Mawphlang, Meghalaya. They participated in the I-League 2nd Division and won the league in the 2012–13 season. They also play in the Shillong Premier League and are participating in the Reliance Foundation Development League.
The Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL) is the premier U-21 competition for boys in India. The fifth season saw 54 participating teams representing 19 states and UTs. The national group stage of the competition was held in Shillong for the first time in its five seasons in March 2026.
When did you start playing football?
I don't remember the age, but I can say that I was very young when I started playing football because my dad was a football player as well, and he had a football team. So that's how I ended up playing a lot of football at a very young age. Competitively, I started playing football when I was four years old, but that was just an inter-class tournament at St. Edmund's in Shillong.
People here in the North-East, especially in Shillong, love football. So everyone is passionate about the game. So my dad, while studying in Shillong, played football for a club called Laitumkhrah. Then he formed a team with a friend from my village, from Mawphlang, and he was from Marbisu. So here we have something called hima. Hima is something similar to kingdoms. So he was from the Marbisu kingdom, and my mom was from hima Mawphlang, which are neighbouring himas. So he formed a team called Ar-Hima, which is to get the youths of both kingdoms an opportunity to come and play football here in the capital, Shillong.
That's how I also ended up coming to this ground (Polo Ground, Shillong) to watch the matches as a very young boy, and I got passionate about the game. I played for Ar-Hima. We also qualified for the I-League in the second division. Ar-Hima was later rechristened to Rangdajied United Football Club in the I-League. We are playing in the Shillong Premier League. We went for qualification in the third division three years back in Goa, and right now we are actively participating in the Reliance Foundation Development League. My dad passed away four years ago. It's the family that is still looking after the club.
You love football, but facilities and infrastructure-wise, was it difficult for you to break into the top ranks?
Yeah, definitely. Considering the facilities and coaches available at that time, it was more about passion — getting yourself to the ground, irrespective of whether there was a coach or not on the pitch. I remember on Star Sports, we used to have a lot of Premier League football happening. So you get to see the matches there, then go to the ground and try new things on your own. So that was more about how we played football. But yeah, getting into mainstream and national football was tough.
Who was your mentor?
I would say eventually, as I grew up and Ar-Hima qualified for the I-League, we started having licensed coaches with good coaching education here. So there were quite a few coaches who really had an impact on my career. There were former football players as well. One of them was Augustine Kharkongor, who is a renowned footballer here.
What were those early years like?
We'd start sessions at 7am and end by 9am. Then obviously in the evening, I would probably run on the treadmill and have double sessions on my own. I think it really helped me build my confidence on the pitch; outrunning other players made me feel better. Eventually, I got into the I-League with Lajong (Shillong Lajong FC) and then ended up at BFC (Bengaluru FC) because of Ashley Westwood.
Who did you watch growing up?
I am a big Manchester United fan. I still recall that it was during the 1998 World Cup that we'd buy a chewing gum and get a football card along with it. I happened to come across David Beckham in a red, sharp jersey and the Predator boots. That's when I fell in love with Manchester United. Matches would air on Star Sports every weekend. My brother, I, and eventually my mum would sit and watch. I think we'd watch every game. From the start at 4 o'clock until the last match. So, there were quite a lot of players that I liked. And I took examples of them and tried to incorporate them in my game. So, Steven Gerrard was one of them. Paul Scholes was one of them. Then you had Dietmar Johann Wolfgang "Didi" Hamann, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs. I liked everyone on the Man United team.
Leeds United was one team which I really loved too because they were very young. At Leeds, I used to like their left-back. His free-kicks were very good. Ian Harte was one of them. Then you had Laurent Robert, who was at Newcastle as well.
So, the names are endless, you know. Then you see young players coming up, and then you look up to them. Steven Gerrard started when he was 17-18 years old. You eventually see him growing better. I mean, how he used to play and the aggressiveness.
So, those were all parts that helped me play my game. And eventually, then you want to watch the Spanish League, but the Spanish League always starts at around 12. So, you would wait to watch. And then I still remember they had a Nike ball. It was white with just one Nike swoosh. And then you see Roberto Carlos. You see Riquelme. You see all the other Spanish players in the Spanish League. And it was a completely different game. Quiet, peaceful.
What would you say were the highlights of your career?
I think every moment I have stepped on the pitch is memorable. I stopped playing four years back. After I stopped playing, I realised how much I miss the sport. When I am coaching, I realise it more because I see the opportunities the boys and girls have at present that we never had. I do not regret stopping. I do not feel that I missed out on anything. I've lived my life playing football, and I've enjoyed every moment of it.
Who are you in touch with?
I'm very good friends with Sunil Chhetri. Then Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam, most of the BFC boys and sometimes Sandesh Jhingan.
What do you think is the secret to Sunil Chhetri's longevity?
There's only one word — he's hungry. He isn't hungry for fame, but whatever he does, he wants to be the best.
Who among the youngsters do you think has the potential to become the next big icon of Indian football?
There are quite a few players. Sandesh Jhingan, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. I kind of like Anirudh Thapa, Apuia (Lalengmawia Ralte) in Mohun Bagan and Lallianzuala Chhangte. They are boys who are proving themselves and taking the weight on their shoulders. Rahul KP as well. Suresh. Then you have Roshan Singh Naorem. The talent is tremendous; the ability, it's just that now we need to give them more responsibility, then they'll have that leadership capacity as well, and I'm sure we'll have more leaders.
But does it pain you to see the state of Indian football?
Yes....
What do you really want to see happen in Indian football?
For me, longevity and continuity. When you talk about uncertainty, yes, the future is bleak. So for me, when I was a coach here in Shillong, it's one of the small towns among other towns, among other cities in India, or other clubs; we are probably one of the thousand clubs in India. For example, if there's no ISL, does it make sense for us to train any kids? The uncertainty is what is worrying.So yeah, we're just hoping that ISL will continue. It has elevated the standard of Indian football regarding pitch, infrastructure, administration and management. It has brought knowledge, management, and good coaches who've come to India to impart that knowledge to our coaches and players.Now, more senior team and ex-senior team football players want to become coaches. Now, we need more Indian coaches to gain that exposure so that we can eventually be self-reliant and be content with what we have. Obviously, our Indian coaches also need to update themselves.
What is your message for everyone who loves football?
For me, football has always been a passion. I love football with all my heart. I'm sure all football lovers want this game to grow bigger in India. I think it's important that we all work hand in hand and not give up, and be positive about everything.