CC CUP FOOTBALL
Imphal, Dec. 23: Neroca FC lifted the CC Meet champion's trophy beating Southern Sporting Union 3-1 in the final of the 59th Sir Churachand Singh KCSI, CBE Invitation Football Tournament, 2015, played at Khuman Lampak main stadium.
This is Neroca FC's fourth champion's title in the CC Meet, along with two runners- up titles while for Southern Sporting Union it is their third runners-up title.
Southern Sporting Union started off with a bang with striker Md Sahidur Rehman netting home the leading goal after collecting a throw in from T. Raju Singh. Neroca FC replied positively in the 20th minute of play with Kh. Satish Singh fetching the equaliser from a second attempt to boot home after anticipating a cross from Offor Emeka Christian to level the score 1-1.
Neroca FC stole the show in the first half injury time with Offor Emeka Christian getting the better of a goalmouth melee, to head home the leading goal. The goalmouth melee resulted with Neroca FC player Kh. Satish injuring his head while Southern keeper S. Dinakumar had to be rushed to hospital because of dizziness. Rojitkanta Sharma replaced Dinakumar as substitute keeper. Falling behind by a goal, the Southern Sporting Union pushed hard but were unable to penetrate the rival's defence.
Neroca FC sprang up with the winning goal when Imran Khan found the net with a header in the 82nd minute with able assistance from W. Tomba and Md Sohail Khan for the victory. Three Southern players - Md Riyash Khan, Sahidur, P. Christopher and Neroca FC players, Th. Johnson and Christian - were shown yellow cards.
Apart from pocketing Rs 5 lakh as winners, Neroca FC also walked away with five other titles, including one for fair play.
Imran Khan was adjudged the Best Player, the Man of the Match and the Footballer of the Year and received prize money of Rs 25,000.
Ch. Kishan of Neroca FC was the youngest player of the meet.
Southern Sporting Union walked away with four individual titles with forward L. Gogocha Singh with eight goals getting the top scorer of the meet. S. Dinakumar got the best goalkeeper award, P. Christopher the best mid-fielder and Sahidur the best striker's title.
FC Zalen defender Kh. Jibon Singh got the best defender's trophy while Sh. Suresh got the best referee title in the meet.
The best footballer's trophy for women went to Ng. Bala Devi and the one for the best coach of the year to L. Chaoba Devi, AFC A licencee.
Cricket: The Assam Cricket Association has selected a 15-member senior women's team to represent Assam in the BCCI T-20 tournament at Ranchi from January 2.
