Nagaland has won the Subroto Cup Boys U-17 after 42 long years as Dimapur’s Pilgrim Higher Secondary School (PHSS) beat Government Model Higher Secondary School (GMHSS) of Chandigarh 1-0 in the final today in Delhi.
It was a game the boys from Dimapur dominated, but in the end, it took a header in the first half of extra time by Setungchim to ensure victory for the team from Nagaland at the Ambedkar Stadium.
The boys from Nagaland played enterprising football. Captain Bapen and Thanglenngam combined well on the left flank where most of the attacks were created. Chandigarh had the best chance of the half when tournament top scorer Lemmet tested Nagaland goalkeeper Shotok, who saved to keep the scores even.
The second half was an even affair with both teams not able to create any clear-cut opportunities, taking the game to extra time. Nagaland, however, looked more compact and organised in attack.
The goal came early in the first half of extra time. Off a Tongtinlen corner, Setungchim, who had scored a hat-trick in the semi-finals, rose highest to deflect a header past Rohit in the Chandigarh goal.
Nagaland is the winner!!
Congratulations on winning this prestigious Subroto Cup 2022 Junior Boys U-17.
Both teams gave tough competition to each other. We would like to congratulate Chandigarh team as well and wish them the best for future.@IAF_MCC#एकkickहौसलोंki #nagaland pic.twitter.com/gnDaBv9GEs— Subroto Cup Official (@CupSubroto) October 13, 2022
The winners received the trophy from the chief guest, Air Chief Marshal V R Chaudhari, who is serving as the chief of the Indian Air Force. Also present on the occasion was Tokyo Olympics silver medallist wrestler Ravi Dahiya, who was the guest of honour.
The champions received Rs 3.5 lakh while the runners up got Rs 2 lakh. The semi-finalists and quarter-finalists were given Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 1 lakh respectively.
The team from Nagaland was led by coach Mughato Aye and manager Akihito Zhimo.
Advisor of Nagaland Youth Resources & Sports, Er Zale Neikha, congratulated the team from Nagaland on Twitter.
“Filled with joy and happiness to express my sincere appreciation to the team and coaches for bringing this prestigious laurel to the state after a long gap of 42 years,” Neikha tweeted.
Nagaland – Winner of the 61st edition of Subroto Cup U-17 trophy. Filled with joy and happiness to express my sincere appreciation to the team and coaches for bringing this prestigious laurel to the state after a long gap of 42 years.@MyGovNagaland @NagalandOlympic pic.twitter.com/s4AyRudyHA
— Zale Neikha (@neikha_zale) October 13, 2022
In their journey to the finals of the prestigious football tournament, PHSS from Nagaland defeated the following teams:
League Match
- Defeated Bihar by 3-1
- Defeated Gujarat by 16-0
- Defeated Assamby 2-0
Quarter-final
- Defeated Meghalaya by 5-4 (on penalties)
Semi-final
- Defeated Manipur by 3-1
It’s a win! Celebration by Nagaland team players caught in a blurry shot. (Photo credit: PHSS)
The prestigious Subroto Cup International Football Tournament is an inter-school football tournament that is held annually in New Delhi.
The tournament is named after the first Indian Chief of Air Staff Air Marshall Subroto Mukerjee.
The late Air Marshall Subroto Mukerjee, a keen football lover, thought of the idea of having a junior football tournament in 1958. It was in 1960 that the first tournament was held and since then, the Subroto Cup International Football Tournament has been held annually in Delhi.
School teams from different states within the country and even abroad participate in the Subroto tournament.
With additional inputs from PTI.
