The All India Football Federation on Sunday congratulated Aizawl Football Club for their maiden I-League title victory. Khalid Jamil’s men were crowned champions after they drew 1-1 with Shillong Lajong in their last match of the season, earning the point they needed to pip Mohun Bagan to the title.
“Aizawl FC’s triumph unfurls a new chapter in Indian football history,” AIFF President Praful Patel said in a statement released by the federation. “This victory will encourage the youth of the country and create a self-belief that on the football pitch, you can pull it off with teamwork. Congratulations.”
Aizawl’s zeal to “achieve the goal made the success possible”, said Kushal Das, the AIFF’s general secretary, while also praising the club’s management. Aizawl’s budget for the season was 20 times less than that of heavyweights East Bengal and Mohun Bagan.
The “Aizawl FC’s victory substantiates the fact that smart management in a football club can reap dividends,” Das added. “The manner in which the club with a shoe-string budget managed to overpower the bigwigs will be spoken about in Indian football history for ever. They are the deserving champions. Congratulations!”