SHILLONG: After months of fun, making new friends and building on their football skills, the top teams from in and around Shillong will contest the finals of the Greater Shillong centres of the Meghalaya Baby League at the JN Stadium, Polo, on Saturday.
The action will begin at 11:00am and entry is open to all.
The second edition of the Meghalaya Baby League, which continues to be supported by Tata Trusts and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) as well as the Government of Meghalaya, began in August 2019 and saw tremendous expansion in its second year, going far beyond Shillong to make it a truly state-wide event. Apart from 12 teams in Shillong (divided into Eastern and Western conferences), new Mawngap and Smit centres were created with six teams in each and these three jointly formed the Greater Shillong centres.
Shillong Eastern and Shillong Western teams faced off in the first set of semis, with the Mawngap and Smit sides facing off in the second set.
The champions of the Greater Shillong league will take part in the final round of the pan-Meghalaya league, which will also involve the new centres started in the other districts of the state, namely West Jaintia Hills, East Jaintia Hills, Ri Bhoi, West Khasi Hills and West Garo Hills next month.
The U-7 final will be played between Nongthymmai GC Scorpions (Shillong Western) versus Rangdajied Eagles (Mawngap). The Scorpions had defeated Langsning Greenergy Lions 4-0 in their semi, with the Eagles coming through against Wahlakhiat FC Tigers 6-1.
Onside Gibbons (Shillong Western) and Little Kickers FA Ferrets (Mawngap) will then face off in the U-9 final. Both finalists had come through 3-0 wins against Langsning and Wahlakhiat, respectively.
The Greenergy Lions were able to progress to the finals of their next two age categories, first defeating Pay For Right Flying Squirrels (Shillong Eastern) 3-1 in the U-11 age group, while their U-12 team mates beat the Scorpions 5-0. In the U-11 final Langsning will meet Upper Shillong Colts (Mawngap), who edged Laitkor Flamingos 2-1 in their last-four fixture. The U-12 final will then see Langsning go up against Rangdajied after the latter defeated Mawlatbah (Smit) 2-0.
