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| Photo credit: Aizawl FC Facebook page |
Aizawl FC dubbed as the people’s club has become immortal in
Indian football history on Sunday evening after the draw against Shillong
Lajong was enough for Aizawl to seal the I-League title on the last matchday of
the 2016/17 season. They also created history
by becoming the first club from the north-east India to win the I-League title.
A club whose budget is just around Rs 2 crore (Mohun Bagan
had spend the same amount in buying Sony Norde, a midfielder).
The Leicester moment for the Aizawl team as their fortunes
turned around in just a matter of a year as Aizawl FC won their I-League title only
in their second year of top-flight football; they were relegated to the second
division of Indian football last year, but after a few Goan clubs pulled out of
the country's league, they got a lifeline back to stay.
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| Photo credit: I-League facebook page |
Coach Khalid Jamil with the likes of Claudio Ranieri (Leicester
City coach) made some smart transfer moves this year by bringing some
experience Indian players like Jayesh Rane and Ashutosh Mehta from Mumbai FC,
and foreign players, Nigerian defender Obunmeme, the Ivory Coast forward Bayi
Kamo (Vardy of Aizawl FC) and the Syrian midfielder Al Amnah (Kante of Aizawl
FC). These transfers proved to be a smart choice as Bayi Kamo provided the much
paced in the game and defy the defender opponent with his smart move and Al
Amnah, the engine of Aizawl FC was ever present throughout the match to provide
the ball.
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Before the match, Aizawl players were protesting after
finding out that the title-deciding game would be conducted by officials from
Bengal. Aizawl protested because Kolkata side Mohun Bagan was also in title
contention and playing a simultaneous match against Chennai. The club said that
they have earlier requested the AIFF to appoint neutral match officials from
other states.
Aizawl were leading the I-League table with 36 points from
17 matches, three points ahead of second-placed Mohun Bagan before the Sunday's
game, and needed at least a draw to clinch their maiden title
During the game, a goal by William Lalnunfela that put the
Aizawl team on level terms with Lajong was enough for Aizawl FC to win The Hero
I-League 2016-2017. The point meant that Mohun Bagan's 2-1 win was meaningless.
In the making of history for Aizawl FC, Mizoram government
was an untold story behind the success, as the government took most of the
initiative to create the ecosystem to develop young players. Because of the
hilly terrain, Mizoram did not have enough football fields. But the government
with its initiative introduced artificial turfs across Mizoram and started
organizing local tournaments. With no big sponsors, the money spent by the
Government of Mizoram in creating the infrastructure played a huge role in the
success of both Mizoram in the Santosh Trophy triumph in 2014 and now in
Aizawl’s success in I-League.
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Currently Mizoram has 58 players playing in the 10-team
national league. Mohan Began player
Jeje, East Bengal’s Lalrindika Ralte, and Robert Lalthlamuana, and
Bengaluru FC’s Daniel Lalhlimpuia and Sena Ralte to name a few are some of the
Mizo players in I league.
"I am really happy for the players. Aizawl are a great
team and they have showed that even without big names you can win
championships. They were consistent and have got what they deserve," Sunil
Chhetri India football skipper and Bengaluru FC’s star striker was quoted on
bolly-buzz.com.
"Aizawl will play in the AFC Cup and now they will not
represent the Northeast, but the entire country as well, they should be ready
for that," Chhetri added.
"Aizawl FC's triumph unfurls a new chapter in Indian
football history. This victory will encourage the youth of the country and
create a self-belief that on the football pitch, you can pull it off with
teamwork. Congratulations," All India Football Federation (AIFF) President
Praful Patel said in a statement to IANS. (With inputs from news agencies)
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