Shillong, May 13: The St Anthony’s Higher Secondary School lifted the maiden Shlur Nongbri trophy in the boys’ division of the Assam Rifles CAPF Under-19 Football Talent Hunt Tournament for Meghalaya with a 2-1 victory over West Jaintia Hills District Sports Association in the final at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Saturday. Umsning SC had won the girls’ final on Friday over East Jaintia Hills District Sports Association 1-0.
In a tightly contested title match, St Anthony’s stunned the assembled crowd of thousands with the opening goal in only the second minute after Freestar Kharbangar met a cut-back cross from Rheadolf Nongneng and slammed it into the net. That proved to be the only goal until the 59th minute when West Jaintia Hills mounted a quick counterattack through Belonia Lywait, who scored with a running shot from the right flank.
Parity, however, lasted a mere minute as Kharbangar got past the opposition defence and easily beat the goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the tournament. West Jaintia Hills tried their level best to get back into the game and even forced St Anthony’s goalie Baiarkupar Kharpor to make a stunning save towards the end of the game off a free-kick, but there was no further breakthrough and the well-contested fixture ended 2-1 in favour of the Shillong school.
Heavy rain fell during the prize distribution ceremony where St Anthony’s and Umsning received their respective trophies, named in honour of the late Meghalaya footballer Shlur Nongbri. The winning teams also each received a cheque of Rs 50,000, with Rs 30,000 going to the runners-up. The two third-placed teams – Tyrsad Higher Secondary School (girls) and Nongstoin District Sports Association (boys) – received Rs 20,000 each.
Earlier, before the start of the contest, Director General of Assam Rifles, Lt Gen Shokin Chauhan AVSM, YSM, SM, VSM welcomed the chief guest, the Honourable Chief Minister of Meghalaya, Dr Mukul Sangma, and thanked him for taking time out of his busy schedule to attend the final.
In his speech, Lt Gen Chauhan said, “With the cooperation of the state government we have organised this tournament very successfully and we will select the best team to represent Meghalaya in Phase 2 of the national Oorja tournament, which will be conducted by Assam Rifles for all states of the North East in Shillong next month.”
Chief Minister Dr Sangma congratulated Assam Rifles for its organisation of the tournament and said, “Football has such a unifying power and we are all witness to this. This tournament will go a long way in nurturing talent and gear our budding footballers to take part in national tournaments.”
Other dignitaries present for the final included Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Mr Zenith Sangma, Chief Secretary Mr KS Kropha and Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Ms Matsiewdor War Nongbri. Meghalaya’s elite sportspersons and brand ambassadors of the tournament – Binning Lyngkhoi, Dolyne Kharbhih and Wansuk Myrthong – were also present on the occasion.
