Shillong, Dec 30: The fourth edition of the Shillong Sports Association’s Women’s Football League 2025 will begin on 5th January with 13 teams taking part this season.
This is the biggest SSA Women’s League so far, as there were 10 teams in 2024 and 12 in the two previous editions. This time there are three groups, with Groups A and C consisting of four teams each and Group B five.
Laitkor are the defending champions and are in Group A with Nongthymmai, Mawshbuit and Umrynjah. Mawshbuit and Umrynjah are making their debuts, while Nongthymmai return to the competition after taking part only in the inaugural edition in 2021.
The bigger Group B comprises last year’s runners-up Pay For Right Football Academy along with Mawkasiang, Lawei, Lumparing and Lawsohtun. Here Mawkasiang and Lawsohtun are debutants.
Group C consists of Rangdajied United, Nongrim Hills, New Challenger and Kharang.
All group games will take place at the SSA Stadium at First Ground, Polo, here. Laitkor will face Nongthymmai in the season-opener on 5th January at 10:30AM.
The top two teams from each group plus the best two third-placed teams will progress to the quarterfinals on 16th and 17th January. The semifinals are scheduled for 20th January and the final on 24th January.
The group games will be of 70 minutes’ duration but matches will be a full 90 minutes from the quarterfinals onwards.
If a quarterfinal match ends in a draw at the end of 90 minutes, penalties will be used immediately to find a winner. However, in the semifinals and final, extra time of 15 minutes’ duration will be used first and, if there is still no winner, then penalties will be utilised.
(TSR file photo from 2024)