Shillong, Nov 13: Jakrem SC were 2-1 victors in a sensational final of the Meghalaya Women’s State League 2025, where they came from a goal down against a feisty Na Rympei Football Academy at the SSA Stadium, First Ground, Polo, here on Wednesday evening.
The title match of the first-ever statewide women’s football league in Meghalaya saw Na Rympei, from the Ri-Bhoi District Sports Association, take the lead in the 14th minute through their talismanic striker Pynhun Shulet. However, a fortuitous own goal in the 58th minute led Jakrem to equalise before Iaphisha Marbaniang (72′) scored the winner.
Jakrem, of the Mawkyrwat District Sports Association, thus go down in history as the first champions of the MWSL, a pioneering initiative of the Meghalaya Football Association with support of the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs to uplift the standard of women’s football in the state. Present at the thrilling final were Principal Secretary Frederick Roy Kharkongor IAS as chief guest, Assistant Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Paia B War Nongbri as guest of honour, MFA President Hamletson Dohling, MFA General Secretary Sunesh Syiem, other senior members of the MFA and affiliated district associations and thousands of fans who added to the atmosphere at the ground. Both teams were well supported, though Jakrem’s had the edge.
The MWSL began on September 20, when it was officially opened by the Honourable Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Wailadmiki Shylla. Over the course of 34 matches spread across five venues, fans have been able to witness the best of Meghalaya’s women football players whose passion for the beautiful game is unmatched. That the two finalists were not based in the Shillong area demonstrates that there is much scope for football’s growth in all corners of Meghalaya.
In the final, Pynhun managed to slip the ball past the advancing Jakrem goalkeeper Priyanka Latam but she was otherwise very well marked by a defensive line that had to work overtime to keep the Na Rympei striker in check.
Jakrem had gone behind in the semifinal against Laitkor SC before winning that match 2-1 as well and were not disheartened at conceding. Indeed, they threw themselves into the attack, constantly asking questions of the Na Rympei defence. It took until nearly an hour into the game before they had the equaliser, though, when a defender tried to hook away a cross into the box but ended up sending the ball into her own net.
Soon after, the team from Ri-Bhoi almost reclaimed the lead but Pynhun’s shot from a very tight angle hit the upright and stayed in play. Eventually, it was Iaphisha who scored the winner – from the left flank her shot looped up and over the goalie Fidelia Lamare.
Iaphisha was named Player of the Final and her team mate, the tireless Sunalinda Iawren, was named Player of the Tournament. A couple of other individual awards were also distributed at the closing ceremony – the Golden Glove for Best Goalkeeper went to Mawlum Tyrsad SC’s Ionaris Khongsit for keeping four clean sheets in the tournament, while the Golden Boot for Top Scorer was awarded to Iaraplang Nongrum of Laitkor for her huge tally of 21 goals.
As runners-up, Na Rympei took home a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, while the champions Jakrem received Rs 2 lakh.
Even in its first season, the MWSL has set a high standard and greater things will be expected of the players in the years to come.
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