2nd Division League : Unbeaten NEROCA FC sign-off campaign with thumping victory
Source: The Sangai Express / With agencies input
Imphal, May 28 2017:
NEROCA FC battled back
from an early deficit to hammer
past visiting Southern Samity,
Kolkata 4-1 to ensure a perfect
sign-off in the AIFF's Second
Division League today at
Khuman Lampak Main
Stadium.
Remaining unbeaten
throughout the final round,
NEROCA FC are on their
way to the Hero I-League for
the very first time in their
history.
NEROCA's ace striker N
Pritam Singh did the star turn
for his team today as he
scored twice and made two
fine assists to shape his
team's fluent 4-1 win over
Southern Samity.
The hosts' seventh successive
victory today (after one
win and two consecutive
draws) brought them to 26
points from 10 matches that
comprised of a total of 8 wins
and two draws.
In the meantime, second
placed Southern Samity
stayed nine points shy after
playing an equal number of
matches.
NEROCA FC were rattled
for a spell after
Southern Samity's ace
striker Ashim Biswas
handed his team an early
lead in the 10th minute.
However, the visitors
proved incapable of containing
the high-octane
NEROCA FCs' offence in
front of thousands of home
crowd as strike prodigy N
Pritam Singh restored parity
in the 25th minute
through an assist from
Singam Subash.
Moirangmayum Ashok
teed up in-form Pritam
Singh to strike his second
in the 37th minute to make
it 2-1.The two sides went
to the break with the one
goal lead of NEROCA intact.
The outcome was sealed
in the 57th minute when
Subash Singh booted home
one for the hosts.
This time
too, N Pritam did well to
wriggle past their rivals' defenders
and set it up for
Subhash Singh to finish well.
NEROCA's striker Felix
Chidi increased the winning
margin to 4-1 as he was bang
on target in the 61st minute.
Felix Odili Chidi made a
fine run through an assist
from Pritam and smashed the
ball into the goal.
The last match for the
State team and the prize distribution
ceremony today was
graced by Youth Affairs and
Sports Minister Letpao
Haokip as the chief guest.
Besides, H Deleep
Singh, Commissioner,
YAS; Dr RK Nimai, retired
IAS; S Sanatomba, president
AMFA and Dr Th
Dhabali, president
NEROCA FC were also
present at the prize distribution
ceremony.
FORMER MANIPURI
FOOTBALL STARS
LAUD HOME TEAM:
Former Manipuri stars
lauded Neroca FC's feat of
winning the Second Division
League and becoming
the first Club from the State
to scale the height.
"It is a huge achievement,"
commented Renedy
Singh, arguably the biggest
name to have emerged from
Manipur's galaxy.
"The win
came at the right time which
will prove worthwhile for
not only the Club but for
Indian Football as a whole,"
he stated.
Defender par excellence
Gouramangi Singh couldn't
hold his emotions back
while explaining Neroca's
FC achievement.
"It is probably
the best ever 'collective'
advertisement of Manipuri
Football till now.
I have
been following Neroca FC
since their inception.
The
management have shown a
real intent the results are
there for all to see.
On a
scale of 10, I would give
them full marks �10 out of
10," he maintained.
He added: "Since the
zonal round, they have
played like true champions
and eventually lifted the silverware."
Surkumar Singh, the
Ajay Singh stars in Manipur Shooting Competition
resolute ex-National Team
right back described
Neroca FC's win from a
different point.
"Neroca's win will have
a terrific impact on the
youngsters who want to
take Football as a career
option.
The parents will
look forward to encouraging
their kids to play the
game with more seriousness,"
he felt.
Surkumar quipped:
"Had we had a Team from
Manipur during out playing
days, we would have
emerged as the best Team.
I wish I was 20 again and
I could play for Neroca,"
he smiled.
Gouramangi credited
Neroca for not ever "losing
the hope."
"Neroca FC came very
close last year too but others
pipped them to make
the cut.
I would credit
them to not lose the hope.
They had to push the limits
this year to overcome
the barrier and they rightly
did so," Gouramangi pronounced.
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