Shillong, Oct 28: The Meghalaya government has approved the lease of 19.99 acres of land at Mawkhanu in New Shillong to NorthEast United FC (NEUFC) for 45 years to establish a football academy, with the club expected to invest Rs 40–50 crore in the project.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced the Cabinet’s decision on Tuesday, stating that the proposed facility would include three football grounds, accommodation for players and other infrastructure to nurture local talent and prepare young footballers for higher levels of competition.
The academy is expected to strengthen Meghalaya’s football development ecosystem by providing aspiring players with improved training facilities and a pathway towards professional football.
The project will complement the state’s Mission Football initiative, through which the government continues to support grassroots development. The programme includes a network of approximately 125 grassroots centres, alongside assistance to local football clubs.
The state government has also indicated that other clubs with viable proposals will be encouraged to seek similar support, signalling its intention to expand opportunities for football development beyond a single institution.
