The formal agreement was signed on July 26 at the office of Ryntih in Mawlai Mawdatbaki with only a few representatives of both parties present due to Covid-19 protocols.
Through the agreement, ISE will work with the club to realise its potential in various verticals, from Brand Strategy, Athlete Management, Events to Partnerships for Development so that Ryntih achieves its next target, that of reaching and sustaining its place in the I-League.
Ryntih was formally established in 1998 but traces its history back to 1987 and a dream to build up a team based around the core of support found in Mawdatbaki, which has always been a hub of talented footballers and passionate fans.
A transformative new management team then took the bold decision to take Ryntih into the Shillong Premier League in 2019 via direct entry and the move paid off, with the team finishing in an impressive third place in their maiden season.
Unfortunately, the coming of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 largely derailed the football season in Meghalaya but Ryntih soldiered on in its vision of taking the club higher and into the I-League. The team restructured its management system, signed a crop of the best local players, instituted a dedicated youth policy and tied up with a foreign club. However, Ryntih was ultimately unsuccessful in their bid for direct entry to the I-League, though the club took great encouragement from the positive consideration the bid received from the All India Football Federation.
With the pandemic continuing to pose grave challenges, Ryntih has done its level best to be as well-prepared as possible for a resumption of football. Players have been motivated to keep fit and active and all the team members and officials have been vaccinated against Covid-19. In the midst of all the challenges, the team has not forgotten the most important members of any club – the public. Ryntih’s players and staff have been actively involved in distributing aid to vulnerable members of society during the second wave and count this as one of the club’s most worthwhile achievements.
Now the aim is to qualify for I-League 2021-22 via the Qualifiers route and, to do this, Ryntih is linking up with Infinite Sports & Entertainment to firstly get its application for a place in the Qualifiers approved by the AIFF and then build a solid foundation in order to guarantee the club’s future and ultimately make it a team that every Meghalayan will be proud of.
President of Ryntih, Wallamkupar Kharpran said that club through the partnership could accomplish more and attain greater results. “The dream and objective of becoming a national and global brand will be further enhanced through this partnership and will prove beneficial to the talented footballers and enthusiasts of the state of Meghalaya as a whole,” he said.
ISE is an organisation headquartered in Shillong with a team of local Meghalayans with multiple sports qualifications between them and strategic partnerships with companies from Mumbai, Bengaluru and other parts of India. ISE has been the local organiser for numerous sports events and development projects for corporates, NGOs, associations, government, etc.
On behalf of ISE, Siddharth Khyriem, Manager, said, “Ryntih has a tremendous support base in Shillong and has impressed the public and administrators of the sport with its dedication, determination and drive to succeed. There is tremendous potential to grow further and ISE is honoured to be a part of the process.”
Phila Hynniewta, Assistant Manager, added, “Ryntih FC has been working tirelessly towards its goals of entering the I-League and demonstrating its abilities on the national stage. Infinite Sports & Entertainment is passionate about helping clubs and associations move forward and we are excited to start working together with Ryntih to achieve its goals.”
