VSAI lift title of 2nd Sangai Trophy Veteran Football Championship
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 31 2018:
VSAI, Thangmeiband emerged champions of the 2nd RKFD Sangai Trophy Veteran Football Championship 2018 organised by United Veteran Football Association at Mapal Kangjeibung today.
The final match of the tournament and the closing ceremony of the tournament was graced by Y Khemchand Singh, Speaker Manipur Legislative Assembly; Karam Shyam, Minister CAF and PD and Dr Dhabali, managing director, Babina Diagnostics as dignitaries who also handed away prizes to the winners and other individuals of exceptional talents.
It was an absorbing final match as VSAI, Thangmeiband and AYMFA played out a 1 -1 draw before VSAI lifted the title with a 5-3 win via a penalty shootout.
K Ranjit of AYMFA found the breakthrough in the 21st minute despite huge pressure from VSAI in the earlier proceeding.
The difference was however settled three minutes latter when Th Bhupen Singh of VSAI hit the equaliser.
Despite of desperate attempts from both teams to find the winner, the game ended in a 1-1 draw during the regulation time.
In the penalty shoot-out, K Khelen, P Romesh, M Bimolchand and Th Bhupen scored for VSAI while only Md Abdul Hakim Sheikh and K Ranjit were able to slot home the balls for AYMFA to go down by 3-5 goals.
W Tomba of the Yairipok side was yellow carded in the 39th minute of this evenly poised match.
The winners of the tournament, VSAI, Thangmeiband walked away with the winners trophy (rolling) sponsored by RK Rameshwar Singh, managing director, RK Fortune Developer Private Limited in honour of his late father RK Balaram Singh and a cash price of Rs 1,00,000 while the runners up AYMFA received the runners up trophy with a cash prize of Rs 50,000 sponsored by RK Rameshwar in honour of dedicated football players of the State.
VSA Sora bagged the fair play team award with a cash prize of Rs 10,000 donated in honour of late Nameirakpam Nungshi Devi while most enthusiastic team award and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 sponsored in memory of late Thoidingjam Dhiren of Khurai Thoidingjam Leikai went to Sangai FC, Imphal.
Best team official trophy and cash prize of Rs 5,000 instituted in memory of Md Akil AH was handed to Th Nabakishore of FC Imphal while the oldest player of the tournament title and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 was received by Ng Brajakumar of ATVFA, Thangmeiband.
Th Ibungobi of AYMFA was honoured with the best player above 45 years award along with a cash prize of Rs 5,000 while best player trophy for below 45 years and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 went to Th Samarendro of VSAI.
N Uttam of TBSFA, Tabungkhok bagged the top scorer trophy and cash prize of Rs 5,000 instituted in the name of Late Ngangom Singhajit for his total haul of 10 goals while P Romesh (VSAI) got the best striker trophy and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 .
Best midfielder title and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 went to M Bimolchand of VSAI while best defender title went to M Shyamsunder of FC Imphal.
VSAI's Ng Enao bagged the best goalkeeper title and a cash prize of Rs 5,000.Md Altaf Shah of AYMFA and Md Devananda of VSAI who were respectively the man of the final match and man of the second semi final match were also honoured with trophies and Rs 3,000 each.
Winners of the march past competition held on opening day, Th Birchandra Singh Football Academy, Tabungkhok were also honoured with Rs 3000 dedicated by Ibobi Sharma, caretaker of Mapal Kangjeibung User, Preservation and Maintenance Committee in memory of his parents, A Tombi Devi and A Babusana Sharma.
Referees, match officials, medical teams and groundsmen who took a great role in successful organisation of the tournament were also honoured with simple presents on the occasion.
Thangjam Arunkumar, manager of runners up of I-League season 2017-18, NEROCA FC was also honoured as "A Person of Highest Achievement in Today's Manipur Football" during the ceremony.