Williamnagar, Oct 27: The 6th Edition of the Captain Williamson Sangma Memorial Football Tournament kicked off at the Baghmara Government Higher Secondary School Playground with a thrilling exhibition match between Langsning Football Club, Shillong, and Garo Hills United Football Club.
The exhibition match was organised to showcase the football talent of the region and inspire the youth of Baghmara and South Garo Hills to pursue sports, particularly football, as a career and passion.
The opening ceremony was graced by Marcuise N. Marak, Cabinet Minister, as the Chief Guest, along with Rakkam A. Sangma, local MLA and former Education Minister, Sumit Kumar Singh, Deputy Commissioner of South Garo Hills, Shailendra Bamaniya, Superintendent of Police, and other dignitaries.
The ceremony began with the reception of the guests by the Wangala troupe and the State Anthem, sung by students of United Baptist Higher Secondary School and presentation of song by Mangsang-Ampang Choir. The players of both teams were warmly welcomed by students of Brio Public School, each presenting a rose as a token of respect and appreciation.
In his address, Chief Guest Marcuise N. Marak described the day as memorable, coinciding with the 35th Death Anniversary of Captain Williamson A. Sangma, the architect of Meghalaya’s statehood. He highlighted Captain Sangma’s immense contributions to the identity and unity of the A•chik people and expressed gratitude to MLA Rakkam A. Sangma for consistently supporting and organizing the tournament since its inception.
Deputy Commissioner Sumit Kumar Singh also spoke at the event, emphasizing that organizing such a football tournament in memory of Captain Williamson Sangma and bringing together top players from Shillong and Garo Hills is a fitting tribute to the great leader.
The exhibition match witnessed enthusiastic support from the crowd. After a goalless first half, Garo Hills United took the lead in the second half with the opening goal. However, Langsning Football Club made a strong comeback, scoring two goals to clinch victory. Langsning FC remains one of the premier football clubs in Meghalaya.
Speaking exclusively to Hub News, organiser Prospar S. Marak shared that since 2018, the tournament has been sponsored and guided by MLA Rakkam A. Sangma. He added that this year’s edition features 32 participating teams and that hosting an exhibition match between top clubs aimed to give wider exposure to the legacy of Captain Williamson A. Sangma and take the event to greater heights across the state.
The event concluded with the presentation of trophies, medals, and individual awards to the winning teams and players.
