Aizawl FC looking for fairytale ending to dream U-18 I-League run

by Kaushal Shukla February 5, 2016

Mizoram, the goldmine of Indian football, has hit the epitome of India football while they clinched their maiden Santosh trophy in 2013. Be it a club from the east or far west, most of the Hero I-League club coaches have Mizo players on their roster. The success story of Aizawl FC, the newest member of Hero I-League family, in the U-18 I-League, might raise some eyebrows but they have already cemented their spot in semis and now they are just two steps away from clinching the maiden U-18 I-League silverware.

Aizawl FC started their campaign in style when they whacked 6 goals against Gangtok Himalayans SC, courtesy a brace apiece from Lalruatpuia and Lalmuanzova. Rochharzela and Lalramramhmunmawia also found their names on the scoresheet in their very first outing. Lalruatpuia showed no sign to stop as he netted another brace against Neroca FC in their next outing. Rochharzela played the vital part in the return leg against Neroca FC when Aizawl FC hurled four goals and booked their berth in the national finals. In the last outing of the Rest of India zone, Aizawl FC toyed with Gangtok Himalayans SC, having scored 8 goals against them. With the mammoth win over the Sikkim outfit, their tally soared up to 21 goals in 4 matches with an average of more than 5 goals per match. Rochharzela continued his menacing form and netted his first hat-trick in the last zonal encounter.

In the National finals, Aizawl FC were pitted against Salgaocar FC, Pune FC, Royal Wahingdoh FC and East Bengal FC in the group B. The Aizawl boys showed their grit in the first outing itself and earned a momentary point against Royal Wahingdoh FC, the champions from the North-East zone. On the next matchday, they registered their first victory in the National finals, that too against East Bengal at their backyard, thanks to the two strikes from the poacher Rochharzela and Lalrinchhana. Pune FC tried everything to outsmart the Mizos in their next outing but finally the match ended in a goalless stalemate. It was a tough call to pick a winner from the duel between Aizawl FC and Salgaocar FC, but Aizawl FC continued their imperious form and breezed past the Goan outfit to secure their semi-final spot, the first team to do so.

Jahar Das, head coach, sounds calm but complacent before the semis, “Competing in the Aizawl District Football Competition and MPL U-18 tournament gave us huge confidence before the U-18 I-League. We are a new club in the national circuit, but we won’t throw in the towel before the final whistle.” On asking whether Aizawl FC boys are feeling the heat, he states, “Not at all, we are here to win the U-18 I-League and we would push our limits to achieve the goal.