Shillong, Aug 12: The Shillong Sports Association’s Second Division 2025 will begin on 18th August with 16 teams divided between three groups.
Groups A and B have five teams with Group C containing six.
Group A comprises Umpling, Jongksha, Mawpat, Mylliem Lum and Lumshyiap.
Group B involves Laitkyrhong, Umphyrnai, Marbisu, Smit and Nongmensong.
Group C, meanwhile, is made up of Mawryngkneng, Tynring, Sohryngkham, Umphrup, Sohiong and Pay For Right Football Academy.
The top two teams from each group plus the two best third-placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals. The two sides that eventually qualify for the final will be promoted to next season’s First Division.
The lowest-ranked team from each group will play in a mini league of the bottom three sides and the two with the worst results will be relegated to the Third Division in 2026.
In 2024 there were 13 teams in two groups that participated in the Second Division. Meghalaya Police and Nongkrem gained promotion, with the cops becoming champions after an intense penalty shootout.
Four clubs from last year’s Third Division were promoted to this year’s Second Division – champions Mawryngkneng, runners-up Umpling and losing semifinalists Mawpat and Tynring.
Two teams were also demoted from the First Division 2024 – Umphyrnai and Sohryngkham.
Nongmensong, meanwhile, won an auction for a place in the Second Division 2025. The successful club will not be exempted from relegation if they finish in the drop zone this year.
(TSR file photo from the Second Division 2024)