Shillong, Dec 3: The third edition of the Shillong Sports Association’s Women’s Football League 2024 will begin on 11th December but the biggest news is that Mawlai SC, who were champions in the first two seasons, will not be returning to defend their crown.
The SSA will squeeze the entire league within December, with the semifinals slated for 27th December and the final three days later. Matches will be of 70 minutes’ duration.
There are 10 teams in all divided between two groups. This is down from the 12 teams that participated in 2023.
Group A consists of Pay For Right Academy, Laitkor SC, Madanrting SC, Kharang SC and Mawpat SC.
Group B comprises Rangdajied United FC, Lumparing SC, Smit SC, Nongrim Hills SC and New Challengers.
Laitkor were twice runners-up to Mawlai, losing both the 2022 and 2023 finals. Lumparing and PFR are the other two teams who have played both previous editions. Kharang were there in 2023, while Madanrting, Mawpat, Rangdajied, Smit, Nongrim Hills and New Challengers are all new to the league.
Although this isn’t an age category tournament, teams generally field girls of school going age; for example, Rangdajied, we’ve been told, is made up mostly of U-15 girls. In fact the SSA delayed the start of the league so that it could take place during the school holidays.
Mawlai were an exception to this as they used to field some of the best senior players Meghalaya had. We expect many have joined clubs taking part in the Indian Women’s League 2024-25 (set to begin in January) and those that haven’t have joined local sides for the SSA tournament.
(File photo from 2023)
