Nagaland’s Neithovilie Chalieureturns to Shillong Lajong FC

Nagaland’s goalkeeper Neithovilie Chalieu has returned to his old academy club Shillong Lajong FC and re-signed for two seasons. After signing his contract with the club for the second time, he said “I have re-signed with this club because Lajong is my first club and always in my mind, they gave me platforms when I was nowhere. It makes me a good player; I came back here to give something to my club”
He hoped that with the new contract, he will be able to play well in Durand Cup, I-League and also get his chances to play in some ISL clubs in the near future. 24-year-old Chalieu is the son of Zhagwelhou and Kezhaleno Chalieu, hailing from Tsiepama village from Chumoukedima district. He is the fifth child among the seven siblings.
Chalieu on Lajong jersey debuted in I-League in the year 2018-19 as the first-choice goalkeeper. But the very same year, the team were relegated from the I-League and took them four years to qualify for the league again this year. After relegation, Neitho went on to play for Ryntih Football Club in a club based in Shillong and played in the I-League qualifying round but didn’t progress to the I-League. He then signed a contract in 2021 with Malwlai SC, a club based in Shillong but left on mutual understanding this year after completing Shillong Premier League.
Shillong Lajong are now back in the Hero I-League after a gap of four years. They were relegated after finishing at the bottom of the table in the 2018-19 season. Their journey in this season’s Hero 2nd Division began as early as the qualifying round in February and went on to qualify along with Delhi FC.
Neitho, an academy product of Lajong have won the U-18 I-League Trophy with Lajong in 2018 and won the U-21 Dr. T Ao Trophy with Nagaland in 2018.
Some of the major trophy, he has won are U-14 Subroto Cup Nagaland team Year 2012, Nagaland Premier League runners-up 2013 club Naga Tornados FC, Santosh Trophy representing Nagaland (3 times) years 2019-2021-2022, Shillong League Champions 3x with Lajong (2016-17-19), Meghalaya State League Champion (2019).