Shillong, May 7: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday launched the Football Season 2026 of the Shillong Sports Association (SSA) during a function held at the SSA Ground in Polo, Shillong.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma receives a football jersey during the launch of the Shillong Sports Association Football Season 2026 at the SSA Ground in Polo, Shillong, on Thursday. (Image: X/SangmaConrad) |
During the event, the Chief Minister hoisted the SSA flag and officially declared the football league open. Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the state government has been making significant investments to promote football and strengthen the sporting culture in Meghalaya.
He stated that the government aims to make Meghalaya, particularly Shillong, the “football capital of the country” and stressed that achieving the goal would require not only infrastructure development but also investment in players, tournaments, and leagues at multiple levels.
“We have to invest in the human capital. We have to invest in tournaments and leagues at the Shillong city level, district level, and hopefully at the block levels also,” he said.
The Chief Minister said reviving football at the grassroots level is essential to generate excitement among young boys and girls across villages and remote areas of the state.
Congratulating the Shillong Sports Association for reviving the culture of football and sports in the city, Sangma also announced a financial assistance of ₹32 lakh under the Chief Minister’s Special Grant (CMSG) for conducting this year’s football season.
He noted that the government had sanctioned ₹28 lakh during the first year of support and ₹30 lakh last year, adding that the amount has now been increased further to support the successful organisation of the tournament.
The SSA football season is expected to provide a competitive platform for local football clubs and further boost football development in Meghalaya.
