MIZORAM lifted SUBROTO CUP for the THIRD Time, DEFEATS Assam 2-1

New Delhi, 15 October 2013: Mizoram has won the Subroto Cup for the third time in a row. Government Chawmfianga Middle School from Kolasib, Mizoram, defeated Betkuchi High School from Kamrup, Assam, by 2-1 in the final of the Sub-Junior Boys (U-14) Subroto Cup at Dr Ambedkar Stadium on Monday evening. The 54th edition of the tournament began on 27 September and saw 28 teams, including two foreign teams, competing.

The final match was intense, with both teams struggling to take control of the ball and score. Both sides were determined and played with great strength and strategy.

From the start, Mizoram dominated the match but missed several goal-scoring chances. Assam's defenders were strong and difficult to get past, acting as a solid shield for their team. Mizoram’s strikers found it hard to break through their defence.

Mizoram had the upper hand early in the game, but scoring was not easy. Assam’s goalkeeper was well aware of the danger posed by Mizoram’s star strikers, Lallawmsanga and Lalthansanga, who kept sending the ball towards the goal. Assam also had goal-scoring opportunities but missed about five or six chances. Both teams struggled to break each other’s defence.

Despite Assam’s resistance, Mizoram’s striker Lallawmsanga managed to break through and scored the first goal in the 28th minute. This was the only goal in the first half.

Runners Up - Assam

In the second half, Assam fought back but failed to score. However, luck favoured them when Mizoram defender SR Lallawmawma accidentally deflected the ball into his own goal in the 36th minute, equalising the score. Awma, who was almost in tears, stood firm to defend his team. The own goal occurred when an Assamese player crossed the ball from the right, and Lallawmawma attempted to clear it. Unfortunately, the ball bounced off his leg and rolled past Mizoram’s goalkeeper Lalmuansanga into the net.

As the match neared its end, the tension grew. The game remained fair, with no players receiving yellow or red cards. In the 47th minute, Lalawmpuia headed the ball to Lallawmsanga, who scored from close range, securing Mizoram’s victory with the second goal. When the final whistle blew, Mizoram’s supporters erupted in cheers, shouting “Hip hip hurray!”

Mizoram lifted the championship trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh, medals, and certificates. Assam, as the runner-up, received a trophy, Rs 1 lakh, medals, and certificates.

Mizoram previously won the title in 2002 and 2003 and was the runner-up in 1998 and 2010. This was their sixth participation in the tournament, but it was the first time Government Chawmfianga Middle School had won.

“We are really happy. I can’t express my joy today,” said HC Zarzoliana, coach of the winning team.

Several individual awards were also given:

Best Player Award: Lalawmpuia (Mizoram) – Rs 25,000 and football boots

Best Goalkeeper Award: Chiran Swargiary (Assam) – Rs 20,000 and football boots

Most Promising Player Award: Nayanjyoti Kuli (Assam) – Laptop and football boots

Fair Play Trophy: Infant Jesus School, Goa – Rs 10,000

Best Coach Award: H.C. Zarzoliana (Mizoram) – Rs 25,000

Mizoram’s coach, H.C. Zarzolian (left, wearing a white shirt), receives the Best Coach Award (Rs 25,000).

Air Marshal HB Rajaram AVSM VSM, Air Officer-in-charge Administration and Vice Chairman of Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society, presented the prizes. He highlighted the importance of the U-14 category in identifying young football talents across India.

The Subroto Cup has three categories: U-14 Boys, U-17 Girls, and U-17 Boys. The U-17 Boys’ final will be held on 17 October, and the U-17 Girls’ final will take place on 19 October between RMSM Vidyalaya, Bishnupur, Manipur, and Government Senior Secondary School, Fatehabad, Haryana. Assam will play against Reverend Saiaithanga Memorial School, Aizawl, Mizoram, in the U-17 Boys’ semi-finals on 17 October.

On Tuesday, Magurmari High School, Kokrajhar, Assam, caused the biggest upset of the tournament by defeating hot favourites Troeschina from Kiev, Ukraine, with a 4-1 victory in the U-17 Boys’ quarter-final. Devide Basumatary (35th minute), Inngbla Brahma (40th), Kapil Kumar Ray (47th), and Josef Ekka (70th) scored for Assam, while Maxim Koshelev (45th) scored for Ukraine. In the girls’ section, Government Senior Secondary School, Fatehabad, Haryana, reached the final after a 4-0 victory over Tyssad School, Shillong, Meghalaya, with Nisha scoring a hat-trick.

In the U-17 Girls’ semi-final on 12 October, RMSM Vidyalaya, Nambol, Manipur, defeated Reverend Saiaithanga Memorial School, Aizawl, Mizoram, by 5-1. D Grace scored a hat-trick in the first half, while Ratanbala Devi added two more goals in the second half. Captain Lalhriattiri scored for Mizoram in the 30th minute.

Each year, over 20,000 schools participate in the qualification stage of the tournament. Selected young players receive scholarships for education and football training through the “Subroto Boys” programme.

However, despite Mizoram’s strong performance, none of its players were selected for The Air Force School (TAFS) U-14 Boys team, which picked 15 players for training.

Assam’s goalkeeper, Chiran Swargiary, receives the Best Goalkeeper Award (Rs 20,000 and a football boot).

Road to the Final:

Mizoram: Scored the most goals in the tournament, with 34 goals in five matches (excluding the final).

Pool Stage: Defeated Don Bosco High School, Maharashtra (6-0); The Air Force School, Delhi (15-0); Coast Guard Public School, Daman (11-1)

Quarter-final: Defeated Govt Model Sr Sec School, Chandigarh (1-0)

Semi-final: Defeated NCC (North Eastern Region) (2-1)

Total Goals: 34

Top Scorer: Lalawmpuia (14 Goals)

Lalawmpuia of Mizoram, the top scorer with 14 goals, receives the Best Player Award (Rs 25,000 and a football boot).

Assam:

Pool Stage: Defeated Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Pratisthan (1-0); Drew with NG Town High School, Odisha (0-0); Defeated J&K (9-0)

Quarter-final: Defeated Infant Jesus School, Goa (1-0)

Semi-final: Defeated Greenwood School, Nagaland (1-0)

Total Goals: 12

Top Scorer: Nayanjyoti Kuli (4 Goals)

— BRUCE K. THANGKHAL

Special Correspondent for The Mizoram Post, Manipur Chronicle, Zogam Today

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