By Our Reporter
Shillong, Sep 30: The quarterfinal fixtures of the inaugural edition of the Meghalaya Youth League 2024 were released by the Meghalaya Football Association on Monday.
All the matches will take place in Shillong on 5 and 7 October, with the U-14 games to be held at the MFA Turf at Third Ground, Polo, while the U-16 matches will be held at the SAI Ground on the NEHU campus.
The newest youth-oriented tournament in the state, organised by the MFA with support of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, has seen well over 500 goals scored across 144 U-14 and U-16 games spread across the state in a demonstration of terrific skill and talent from even the youngest players.
Now the eight best teams will gather in Shillong for the knockout round where they will each be tested like never before.
In the U-14 age category, Zone A winners Tura District Football Association will face Zone C runners-up Shillong Sports Association in the first match on the first day at 10:30am, followed by Zone B victors West Jaintia District Sports Association against Zone D runners-up Pyndengumiong District Sports Association at 1pm.
Then, on 7 October, Zone C winners Ri-Bhoi District Sports Association will take on Zone A runners-up North Garo Hills District Sports Association at 10:30am, followed by Zone D winners Nongstoin District Sports Association versus Zone B runners-up Amlarem Block Sports Association at 1pm.
The U-16 quarterfinals involve seven of the same teams, the only difference being that Williamnagar District Sports Association were champions of Zone A and they will face Shillong SA at 12pm on 5 October.
Then will follow West Jaintia versus Pyndengumiong at 2pm.
On 7 October, Ri-Bhoi will face North Garo Hills at 10am followed by Nongstoin against Amlarem at 12:30pm.
The semifinals will then take place on 9 October with the finals to bring the exciting tournament to a close on 11 October.
After the superb level of action in the group stages, expectations are high for a marvellous quarterfinal round, with all teams eager to put their best foot forward in the race to be youth champions of Meghalaya.