Mawlai, who wrapped up the title on Wednesday, were on hand for the prize distribution ceremony where the three-time champions got their hands on the coveted trophy once again.
Today’s games also decided the rest of the standings, with Shillong Lajong taking the runners-up spot with a 3-0 victory over seventh-placed Rangdajied United. Nongkseh and 2025 champions then fought it out for third place, with a 1-1 draw.
The champions and runners-up will progress directly to the SSA Super Cup’s semifinals, while Nongkseh and Langsning will first go through next week’s playoffs with fifth-placed Meghalaya Police and sixth-placed Sawmer.
Mawlai and SLFC will both also take part in the SSA Champions Cup, which will begin in November.
As champions, Mawlai received Rs 6 lakh in prize money while Lajong took home Rs 3 lakh. SSA President Banteidor Lyngdoh MLA and other senior members of the association, along with Meghalaya Football Association President Hamletson Dohling and Meghalaya men’s senior team coach Stanley Rozario, were present at the closing ceremony. The SSA has been able to provide the biggest prize purses of any district league in Meghalaya through the generous financial support of the Meghalaya government.
In the early kick-off Lajong scored through Rimankhraw Kharumnuid (49’), Banlamkupar Rynjah (74’) and Deibormame Tongper (90’+3P) after a goalless first half.
Later, under the floodlights, a fierce contest developed between Langsning and Nongkseh, with the game ending in a draw.
Both teams were well supported from the stands and the game had all the hallmarks of a final even though they were not playing for the title this year.
Langsning scored first in the 11th minute when Samuel Phawa tapped in a cross from Syed Ahmed that went under the foot of Nongkseh defender Mebankhraw Wahlang. Wallambok Dkhar (45’+2) then mistakenly put the ball into his own net before the break as he tried to clear a dangerous cross.
The spirit of competition in the SPL this year has been on another level. The promotion of Nongkseh and Meghalaya Police made sure that there were several teams capable of winning the title almost to the very end and this excitement will undoubtedly continue into the Super Cup and Champions Cup to come.
