By Our Reporter

Shillong, Jan 3: The inaugural edition of the under-13 (L) Josephine Kharkongor Memorial Football Tournament commenced on Friday, bringing together eight teams to compete for top honours.
The participating teams have been divided into two groups.
Group A features Mawlai Grassroots Centre, PFR Academy, Umpling Kickers Academy, and Shillong Soccer Scout, while Group B includes DBSA, Young Age Academy, JK FC, and RUFC. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. The grand finale is scheduled to take place on January 8.
The tournament has been organized in memory of the late Josephine Kharkongor, marking her fourth death anniversary.
Her eldest son, Augustine Kharkongor, a renowned footballer from the state, shared the family’s motivation behind the event.
“We decided to organize this tournament to honour my mother’s legacy and to create a platform for young football talents,” Kharkongor said. Highlighting the importance of grassroots development, he noted the increasing number of football academies focused on nurturing youth but lamented the lack of competitive tournaments for younger age groups.“Real match exposure is essential for growth and development. Training sessions alone cannot replicate the challenges and experiences of competitive matches,” he explained, emphasizing the need for more tournaments catering to younger players.
Kharkongor also revealed plans to make the memorial tournament an annual event, aiming to foster the growth of football in Meghalaya and provide consistent opportunities for budding talent.
The tournament is expected to serve as a significant step in encouraging grassroots football development and inspiring the next generation of players in the region.