KFA lift Sadar Hills 1st Division League trophy
Source: Chronicle News Service
Kangpokpi, August 20 2022:
Kuki Football Academy emerged as champions of the 8th Sadar Hills 1st Division District Football League after beating Twilang Area Sporting Association in a penalty shootout in the final match held at Brig M Thomas Ground, Kangpokpi district headquarters, on Saturday.
The two-week-long football league was organised by Sadar Hills District Sports Association.
The league was sponsored by Kamginmang Kipgen and his family in memory of Nohjang Kipgen, a renowned Kuki warrior who fought the mighty Britishers during the Kuki Rising.
In an action-packed final match, KFA's Thangboi Kipgen found an early opener in the 4th minute with a brilliant 35-yard strike before TASA almost immediately equalised in the 9th minute through Haogoulun as the first half ended in a 1-1 deadlock.
TASA produced a better performance in the second half as Paokhokap found the back of the net after converting a brilliant cross of Haogoulun in the 67th-minutes to lead the game 2-1 .
TASA had earlier defeated KFA 2-1 in their first match in the league and everyone was expecting that TASA would be the champions of the league.
However, KFA proved them wrong by finally finding an equaliser in the 81st minute through Haolenngam after multiple attacks that unsettled the TASA defence.
The final whistle was blown by the centre referee Lalminthang Lhouvum to de cide the winners through a penalty shootout after both teams were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time.
In the shootout, KFA prevailed 7-6 against their opponents.