Shillong: Football enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting Mynken Christian Higher Secondary School to potentially clinch the U-17 Subroto Cup International Football Tournament title, with the final set to take place tomorrow, Sunday, in Delhi.
Mynken Christian HSS has shown great promise throughout the tournament. Starting in Group F alongside schools from Bihar, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, and Chandigarh, the team made an impactful debut, defeating Daman & Diu 23-0.
In their second match, they faced a tougher challenge against Chandigarh, last year’s champions, but emerged victorious with a narrow 1-0 win. Myngken Christian went on to defeat Bihar 5-0 in their final group stage match, bringing their total goal tally to 29.
The team’s playing formation of 4:3:3 has proven effective, with standout players excelling in all areas—from goalkeeping to defense, midfield, and striking. Some key players include Wanpli Malang, Bipiush G. Marak, Richborn Kharpuri, and Mebanlamlynti Masharing, under the guidance of coach Bah Kitborlang Kharlukhi and manager Bah Carmelius Ramshon.
In the quarterfinals, Myngken Christian overcame CISCE (Minerva Punjab) 3-1. They followed this up with a stunning 7-0 semifinal win against Arunachal Pradesh’s school team yesterday.
While reflecting on the tournament’s quality, one football coach pointed out that the Subroto Cup has seen a dip in competition this year, with some groups featuring weaker teams compared to previous editions. Nonetheless, Myngken Christian HSS remains a strong contender.
As they prepare to face the Manipur team in the final, the focus will be on how well Myngken Christian can perform under pressure, as any small mistake could cost them the title. However, their past performances have demonstrated their capability to rise to the occasion.
Football fans are hopeful that the Myngken Christian team will follow in the footsteps of Nongjri Presbyterian School, which brought home the U-15 title for Meghalaya. A victory tomorrow would mark an incredible achievement, with two schools from the same state winning Subroto Cup titles in the same year.
All eyes are on Myngken Christian HSS as they aim to bring home the prestigious trophy.
