Shillong, Jan 21: After days of intense preparation, Meghalaya will look to make a positive start to their final round campaign in the 79th Senior Men’s National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2025–26 when they take on Odisha on Thursday.
The match will kick off at 2pm at the Silapathar Football Stadium in Assam and will be livestreamed on FIFA+.
Meghalaya have been drawn in a formidable Group B, widely regarded as a “group of death,” featuring four former champions and one runner-up. Punjab have won the Santosh Trophy eight times and finished runners-up on eight occasions, while Kerala boast seven titles and nine runner-up finishes. Services have lifted the trophy seven times and finished second five times, while Railways are three-time champions and six-time runners-up. Meghalaya finished runners-up once, while Odisha are the only team in the group yet to reach the final.
Meghalaya’s best-ever performance came in the 2022–23 season, when they narrowly lost the final to Karnataka. Head coach Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh, who guided the team during that campaign, is once again at the helm this year.
The road to the final round was not smooth for Meghalaya. In the preliminary stage last month, they suffered a 2–1 defeat to Sikkim before edging Arunachal Pradesh by the same scoreline. That was just enough to secure qualification based on goals scored. While preparation time ahead of the preliminaries was limited, the team has since benefited from several weeks of focused training ahead of the final round.
The extended preparation period has also helped Meghalaya overcome the absence of several players due to club commitments and other constraints. Despite these challenges, the support staff, with backing from the Meghalaya Football Association, have assembled a balanced and competitive squad, though the task ahead remains daunting given the strength of the opposition.
With four teams from each group advancing to the quarterfinals, Syiemlieh and his players will focus on navigating the round-robin stage, where tactics, squad management and consistency will be crucial.
Buoyed by the support of the football-loving public back home, Meghalaya will aim to make a confident start when they face Odisha on Thursday.
Meghalaya Squad
Rajat Paul Lyngdoh, Banshanskhem Kharsyntiew, Nister Roy Suting, Wanboklang Lyngkhoi, Apborlang Kurbah, Wilbert D. Marbaniang, Iohborlang L. Lyngkhoi, Mebanaibok Kharbudnah, Richie Kharbani, Mebankhraw K. Wahlang, Rimankhraw Kharumnuid, Riborlang L. Lyngkhoi, Babysunday Marngar, Dibormi Kassar, Mebanshngain Kurkalang, Fairming Suting, Robertson M. Khongriah, Hardy Cliff Nongbri, Kynsaibor Lhuid, Marbiangki Suchiang, Deibormame Tongper, Dawanchwa C. Challam
Support Staff
Khlain Pyrkhat Syiemlieh (Head Coach), Sailon Syngkrem (Assistant Coach), Dious Lapasam (Manager), Wanbokstar Syiemiong (Physio)
Meghalaya Group Fixtures
Jan 22: vs Odisha, 2pm, Silapathar
Jan 24: vs Punjab, 2pm, Dhakuakhana
Jan 26: vs Services, 2pm, Silapathar
Jan 29: vs Kerala, 2pm, Silapathar
Jan 31: vs Railways, 9am, Venue to be announced
