Shillong, Nov 2: The eagerly awaited SSA Champions Cup 2026 is all set to begin on Tuesday with new entrants Mawlai SC and Lamlynti FC to face off at the SSA Stadium here. Kick-off in the Group A encounter will be at 2:30PM.
The Champions Cup adds another level to the SSA’s competitive football calendar, with the winners and runners-up from each of the five men’s divisions competing in a league-cum-knockout tournament.
2025’s inaugural champions Nongkseh failed to make it to the Top 2 of the Shillong Premier League this year and will, therefore, not be able to defend their Champions Cup title. Indeed, all but one of the participating teams are new entrants; only Shillong Lajong are returning for a second consecutive year.
Mawlai are the SPL champions, having won their third such title unbeaten throughout. However, they then fell to Nongkseh in the SSA Super Cup semifinals that followed. Nevertheless, Mawlai will certainly start as one of the favourites in the Champions Cup as they seek to add further silverware to their trophy cabinet this year.
On the other side are Lamlynti, the runners-up from the Third Division. They topped their preliminary group and finished second in their Super 8 group, only behind eventual champions Sanmer. They then defeated Umiew Maw U Sam on penalties before losing to Sanmer in the title match.
To put the clubs on a more even footing, those from the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions are allowed to sign five players from other local clubs on loan, whereas those from the SPL and First Division must use the players already registered with the SSA.
Lamlynti have utilised their full complement of five loanees, having brought on defender Lukas Syngkli and goalkeeper Nister Suting from Langsning, midfielder Nikelson Bina from Nangkiew Irat, defender Shanborlang Nonglait from Laitkor and Shaitborlang Kharkrang, a striker from Mylliem Lum.
Last year the SPL and First Division teams dominated and occupied all the semifinal spots. However, that is not to say that the lower division teams did not perform well and this time around the six teams from the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions are going to strive to compete with the very best from the top of the Shillong football pyramid to earn themselves and their clubs the glory.
(File photo)