Twenty two years. That’s how long North India had waited for a national league title. And on March 8, 2018 that wait ended on a Thursday afternoon in front of joyous fans, dancing to the Bhangra beats as Minerva Punjab FC were crowned I-League Champions.
Kiran Kumar Limbu, a keeper from Nepal, pulled off multiple saves against Churchill Brothers to deny the Goan club an equaliser on the day of the coronation. Chencho Gyeltshen, a Bhutanese player, was the star over the season with seven goals. William Opoku, a former Middlesbrough player from Ghana, scored the all-important goal on the last day. Manipuri Wanghem Khogen Singh, a teammate of East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil at Air India, had exuded calm on the bench, when Minerva’s title challenge was crumbling in the latter half of the season.
But, in the end, their origin stories and the backgrounds didn’t matter. What mattered was the space for the shiny new trophy in Minerva’s cabinet wouldn’t remain unfilled.
The final word on the day, came from an apt source. Sukhwinder Singh, the coach of the winning JCT team in 1996, was also present on the occasion, made a poignant note: “It can’t be the end of the revolution for Punjabi football, it has to be the start.”
Surprised that Avilash Paul does not find a mention in any of the teams...kept the most no. of clean sheets (6) after Shilton Paul (8) and had a very good season with Aizawl
Comments
Hasnt there been like no payment to winners from AIFF or is that been sorted out?
Also regarding CB asking for immunity, again it’s the reason why AIFF are handling I-league pathetically.
Almost each year there is always appeals and requests, what sort of professionalism is it?
CB has to be relegated and so is any team that finishes last If there is a relegation clause.
Twenty two years. That’s how long North India had waited for a national league title. And on March 8, 2018 that wait ended on a Thursday afternoon in front of joyous fans, dancing to the Bhangra beats as Minerva Punjab FC were crowned I-League Champions.
Kiran Kumar Limbu, a keeper from Nepal, pulled off multiple saves against Churchill Brothers to deny the Goan club an equaliser on the day of the coronation. Chencho Gyeltshen, a Bhutanese player, was the star over the season with seven goals. William Opoku, a former Middlesbrough player from Ghana, scored the all-important goal on the last day. Manipuri Wanghem Khogen Singh, a teammate of East Bengal coach Khalid Jamil at Air India, had exuded calm on the bench, when Minerva’s title challenge was crumbling in the latter half of the season.
But, in the end, their origin stories and the backgrounds didn’t matter. What mattered was the space for the shiny new trophy in Minerva’s cabinet wouldn’t remain unfilled.
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The final word on the day, came from an apt source. Sukhwinder Singh, the coach of the winning JCT team in 1996, was also present on the occasion, made a poignant note: “It can’t be the end of the revolution for Punjabi football, it has to be the start.”
http://www.espn.in/football/minerva-punjab/story/3415007/army-of-champions-deconstructing-minerva-punjabs-fairy-tale-i-league-win
Army of champions: Deconstructing the Minerva fairy-tale
I-League 2017-18: Minerva Punjab, NEROCA FC breathe life into dying competition; Indian coaches make a mark
http://www.firstpost.com/sports/i-league-2017-18-minerva-punjab-neroca-fc-breathe-life-into-dying-competition-indian-coaches-make-a-mark-4387043.htmlhttp://www.goal.com/en-in/lists/i-league-2017-18-team-of-the-season/fdqn7h4wtrgo1p722zl5a0igs#8spmvvcmsug71gkb5arimlo3v