Shillong, May 22: There will be a radical change to the format of the Shillong Premier League this year, with the Shillong Sports Association’s top flight event reduced to a single leg league.
There was a general feeling that SPL 2024 was overly long, with 90 matches played between the 10 clubs. This year there will be only 45 games, with the champions decided at the end of the league stage.
SPL 2023 was also held in a single leg but with semifinals and a final. There will be no playoffs in 2025, however, with the top team at the end of the league stage crowned the champions.
The best six teams, though, will qualify for the new Shillong Super Cup, which will be in a knockout format. The champions and runners-up of SPL 2025 will qualify directly for the semifinals but teams placed third to sixth will first go through a set of playoffs. The winners will then meet teams 1 and 2 in the semis, with a final at the end of it.
These changes were spelled out during a press conference called for by the SSA today.
The SSA’s tournament committee also decided that only two non-Meghalaya residents will be allowed in any club’s starting line-up.
SPL 2025 will begin in July, according to the SSA’s calendar for the season. The SPL clubs this year are reigning champions Shillong Lajong (pictured), Mawlai, Rangdajied United, Nangkiew Irat, Laitkor, Langsning, Nongrim Hills, Sawmer, Malki and Mylliem (the last two promoted from the First Division).
An earlier start (last year’s tournament began in October) and a shorter format should avoid clashes with the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy and Meghalaya State League.
SSA General Secretary Dipshon L Nongbri gave special thanks to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma and his government for supporting the association in terms of developing the SSA Stadium at First Ground in Polo and with the running costs of the various divisions.
Meanwhile, SSA Working President Robert Dkhar made mention of the planned Championship League, which will bring together the winners of all five SSA men’s divisions in one tournament. This will be held sometime in November.
Also planned for this season are the SSA’s Women’s Football League and U-12, U-14 and U-16 youth tournaments at the tail end of the year.
The SSA’s 2025 season will begin on 2nd June with the start of the U-20 Fourth Division.
(File photo)
