Shillong, Mar 9: asdf
Unprecedented move to have a single leg SPL. Bring back semifinals and final.
Clubs were asked to attend a meeting on Tuesday at the SSA office here with expectations that the league would begin soon. A local newspaper had reported that the SPL would begin next week.
That is no more likely given that the sponsors of the SPL reportedly don’t want the tournament to stretch across financial years, which is exactly what would happen if it began now. Is that an insurmountable problem? It shouldn’t be – after all, the ISL is only going to end next month, ie in the 2024-25 financial year.
But, anyway, the sponsors control the money and the SSA has to dance to their tune. Even if the league began today, though, there are time constraints. A double leg league would take approximately three months to complete (it took three and a half months in 2022).
The SPL needs to be held before the inter-club transfer can take place. And only then can the next season’s divisions begin, starting with the Fourth Division.
The SPL also has to be finished quickly enough because of the Meghalaya State League; if it takes too long, the MSL, which is organised by the Meghalaya Football Association, could exclude the SPL teams. That’s because the MSL also has to hurry in order for their champions to take part in the All India Football Federation’s I-League 3. According to the AIFF website, I-League 3 is meant to begin on 1st August.
So, the SSA’s solution is to effectively halve the league and wrap up the action by April or early May. Clubs were unwilling to acquiesce on the day when this proposal was put to them officially, ie Tuesday, and they requested time until Saturday before giving an answer.
The main problem has been the ground. Hopes were pinned on the First Ground artificial pitch to have been ready but drainage issues led to waterlogging and delays in handing over the ground to the SSA by the contractors last year.
A big season was planned for 2023, with the introduction of an U-16 boys’ league. Some of the lower leagues were held at Second Ground’s dirt surface and Third Ground’s deteriorating artificial turf but First Ground was meant to host the bulk of the contests. The return of the I-League to Shillong also meant that First Ground was needed more than usual. Other delays arose through the Santosh Trophy, some others.
Such a situation would be disappointing for Nongthymmai (playing their first season in the SPL) and Sawmer (re-promoted), especially if they get relegated. Will the prize money stay the same or be cut in half? Should the tournament that is held up (or rather which has held itself up) to be the best in the state be reduced to just seven matches per team (during the round robin stage)? Won’t this negatively affect player performance? It may not be an ideal situation but the teams have little other choice.