Shillong, Nov 14: The Shillong Sports Association has released the groupings and fixtures for its inaugural Champions Cup 2025, which is all set to begin on 24 November.
The brainchild of the SSA, the tournament will bring together the winners of the association’s five men’s football divisions into one fast-paced and thrilling competition. The 10 eligible teams have been divided into two groups of five and will play each other once, with the top two from each group progressing to the semifinals.
The teams will all be chasing the glory that goes with being the first Champions of Champions as well as the sizeable cash prize of Rs 8 lakh for the winners, which will make it one of the most lucrative football tournaments anywhere in Meghalaya.
The tournament will begin at the conclusion of the ongoing First Division. Nongkseh and Meghalaya Police have already booked their places in the Top 2 of this division, though who will be champions has yet to be decided.
Group A consists of Shillong Premier League winners Langsning, Mylliem Lum (Second Division champions), Umlyngka (Third Division runners-up), Mawkasiang (Fourth Division victors) and the First Division runners-up.
Group B comprises SPL runners-up Shillong Lajong, Laitkyrhong (Second Division runners-up), Mawkriah West (Third Division winners), Mawlynrei (Fourth Division runners-up) and the winners of the First Division.
The league will open with Mawkasiang facing Mylliem Lum at 1pm on 24 November, with Langsning to face Umlyngka at 4:30pm later on the same day. The semifinals will be held on 9 and 10 December and the final will take place on 13 December.
The trophy was unveiled yesterday during the SSA Super Cup 2025 final by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma in the presence of Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Wailadmiki Shylla and the captains and team officials of the 10 clubs.
The participating teams from the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions are allowed to sign up to five players on loan for this tournament to even out the playing field a little and give the players from the lower divisions a chance to train, play and compete against the state’s best talent.
The competition is also expected to provide officials with an understanding of how wide the gap is between the teams in the local football pyramid while also helping selectors/scouts from clubs, the SSA and Meghalaya Football Association identify up and coming players in the lower leagues.
Football fans, though, will want competitive games. The possibility of taking top players on loan will definitely help with that and, coupled with the support of the tremendous fan base that lower division clubs have, the SSA Champions Cup is sure to be an enthralling tournament and a fantastic inclusion in the local football calendar.
