Shillong, April 14: Meghalaya’s young football talents are gearing up for their debut appearance in the inaugural edition of the U-20 Men’s National Football Championship, organized by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). However, fans will have to wait until next month for the action to commence.
Named after the eminent Swami Vivekananda, the championship commenced on Friday. To facilitate the participation of all teams at one venue, the tournament is being staged in Narainpur, Chhattisgarh.
A total of 32 states are vying for glory in this prestigious championship, with the final showdown set for May 22nd. This marks a significant milestone as it is the first AIFF tournament tailored specifically for players in this age group.
AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey emphasized the importance of such competitions in nurturing young talent, stating, “We felt the need to have the competition to put the building blocks in pace for our footballers. The U-20 group competition is very crucial in a player’s lifecycle to step into a professional career. With the U-20 competition, the youth structure slabs from sub-junior to Santosh Trophy get completed.”
The tournament format sees the winner of each group progressing to the quarterfinals, which culminate on May 18th.
Subsequently, the semifinals are slated for May 20th, leading up to the highly anticipated final on May 22nd.
Meghalaya’s fixtures are as follows: Meghalaya vs Mizoram, May 12, 3:30 PM. Meghalaya vs Rajasthan, May 14, 3:30 PM. Meghalaya vs Maharashtra, May 16, 3:30 PM
Football enthusiasts across Meghalaya eagerly await the commencement of the championship, as the state’s young talents prepare to showcase their skills on the national stage.
