NEROCA retain CC Meet title
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2013: North Eastern Reorganising and Cultural Association (NEROCA), Sangakpham deservedy claimed the title of the 56th Sir Churachand Singh KCSI CBE Memorial football tournament at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.

The defending champions retained the coveted title after a pulsating penalty-shoot against a lacklustre Assam Regimental Centre (ARC), Shillong in the summit clash at a nearly packed stadium.

After a goalless draw in normal period, penalty shoot-out was applied to decide the winner which the Sangakpham side eventually emerged with a 3-1 margin.

While three of the five penalty takers succeeded for NEROCA, only Rakesh Singh of ARC managed to beat the rival custodian Mutum Raj out of four attempts with the goal-tender saving one and two others missing the mark.

Th Roshan, K Rocky and Maibam Tyson were the successful penalty takers for NEROCA.

ARC custodian Hauggolal, later adjudged the tournament's best goal-keeper, also made one save during the shoot-out and it was undoubtedly his brilliance under the ARC bar that denied the rivals an outright victory within normal period.

Compared to ARC showing glimpses of attacking flair and team combination only at the initial moments of both sessions, NEROCA dominated the grand finale but failed to translate their dominance into goals as Hauggolal turned out to be a hard nut to crack.

Apart from a lunging dive to parry off Maibam Tyson's dipping free kick in the opening minutes of first half, the ARC custodian had a busy outing and kept his team in the match with timely interventions and brilliant saves in both sessions, consequently earning him the tournament's best goalkeeper and best player awards.

With experienced stopper L Manitombi Singh marshalling the NEROCA defence, ARC strikers seldom had a clear look or shot at the rival's post.

The only notable threats posed to the eventual winners was Sanahal's free kick from near the centre in the first half that forced Raj to lean back and tip over the ball and a goalmouth melee in the second half.

In the later case, ARC players failed to slot home from close range with Raj stranded helplessly.

Raj also won the male footballer of year award as well as man of the final match.

I Prameshwori Devi of ESU, Wangkhei was declared the female player of the year while quarter finalists Zomi Football Club, Churachandpur were honoured with the fair play trophy.

Along with the champions' trophy NEROCA also pocketed top cash award of Rs 1 lakh while ARC had to content with half the amount.

Cash prizes of varying amount were presented to individual and team winners of different titles during the closing ceremony held with Speaker Th Lokeshwor Singh and Manipur Olympic Association president Bijoy Koijam as the chief guest and president respectively.

Parliamentary Secretary Md Amin Shah, Thangmeiband AC MLA Kh Joykisan and MACS Project Director Shailesh Kumar Chaurasia graced the occasion as the guests of honour.

The tournament was organised by All Manipur Football Association under the sponsorship of Manipur State AIDS Control Society.

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