Mar - Apr 17 Issue Photo credits : Nilanjan Dutta Congratulations Aizawl FC on winning the I-League 2017 President’s Corner Congratulations Aizawl on winning the I-League. Their story has been a fairy tale. We have been talking about Leicester City but Aizawl achievement is nothing less. They have gone from strength to strength in this league and Khalid Jamil should take full credit for this. His team has been mentally strong and has churned out results when the time came. Aizawl’s victory is a victory for the whole of North East which has been a nursery for football talent for over 3 decades now. Our players have been going outside the state to give their services to the big clubs in Goa , Calcutta and now Bengaluru but with the rise of Aizawl and Neroca (who also look destined to qualify for the I-league) our players can be at home and follow their passion beside earning a living. The Indian national team also started off their Asian Cup qualifying campaign with an away win. Though the win wasn’t the most convincing one the boys should take a lot of heart from it and prepare better for the next match which I believe is at home. A win would mean 6 points in the first two matches which would be a huge step towards qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup in Dubai. The team is very talented and hard working. Honestly I don’t see any reason of not qualifying for the Asian Cup. I wish Coach Stephen Constantine and his wards the best for their quest for UAE 2019. Their qualifying would give a huge boost to Indian Football. The season end is coming and we are planning on an exhibition match to generate some revenue for our association. We will use this money to fund the coaching camps which our members run generally for under privilege children in various parts of the country. Would request you to come forward and support us for this game. The AFC B license will also be conducted in June and there are only a few spots left so please register asap. These licenses are conducted by the association on a subsidized budget especially for the players. Please take the opportunity and finish your badges as fast as you can. For registering, get in touch with Siddhartha (+91-9830379888). The season is ending and for any contract issues please get in touch with our office. We are there to help you and would request you to approach us for any problems on or off the field. We will be supporting you provided you are right and honest. Call Cyrus (+91-9830999436) or Siddhartha (+91-9830379888) for any issue. They are there to help you out. Congratulating Aizawl for their I-League championship and redefining Indian football. The Fed Cup will now be all the more interesting especially with the big guns missing out on the league. Would wish luck to all the teams and hope that the best one wins it. Till the next time. Cheers . Fairplay 02 Bengal lifts Santosh Trophy 2017. Bengal today lifted the Santosh Trophy for the 32nd Bengal, thus, ended a six-year wait having last won the time after Manvir Singh struck in the 119th minute for title in 2011. Goa last won it in 2009. a 1-0 win over Goa, extending their domination in the premier domestic football tournament. Goa, who had hosted the tournament thrice prior to the 2016-17 edition, lost to Bengal in the semifinal in 1972 After playing out a goalless 90 minutes, Manvir finally and the final in 1996, while won against Kerala in 1990. came good in the dying moments of extra time to leave the home crowd shocked at the GMC Stadium. We congratulate the whole Bengal team and Coach Mr. Mridul Banerjee for an outstanding tournament Entering the title clash on the back of some impressive and bringing back the Santosh Trophy to the Mecca of outings, Manvir was kept quiet for a major part of the Indian football. match but with barely seconds to go for the final whistle, he found the target with a stunning left-footer. Playing in front of a vociferous home crowd, five-time winners Goa tried their best and controlled the match, but ran out of steam in the extra time. The hosts had their chances to score but the rival keeper pulled off some great saves. Fairplay 03 Interview of Rupert Nongrum midfielder Shillong Lajong and Delhi Dynamos. FPA I : What are your earliest memories of football? How did you start playing the game? RN : My earliest memories of football are with my childhood friends on the streets and in the muddy fields. The experience was even better when it rained. I started playing the game since I was 5 but never took it seriously. It was in school when I was in class 6 that I got selected to play for my school team and started becoming serious about the game . FPA I : You have been in Shillong from the time you started playing football. Enjoying your stint here? RN : Yes I have been with Shillong Lajong since I started playing and I have enjoyed my stint with the club. I have worked with various coaches and everyone has contributed immensely to my career here. I am what I am today because of Shillong Lajong. FPA I : Delhi Dynamos team had a fantastic season in the ISL. Tell us your experience playing under someone like Gianluca Zambrotta and sharing the dressing room with someone like Malouda. RN : Playing for Delhi Dynamos in ISL 3 was one of the best experiences for me. To play under an world cup winner Gianluca Zambrotta and having teammates Fairplay 04 .. like Malouda is special .From watching them play on television to sharing the same dressing room as them was the probably the greatest experience of my life. FPA I : You are still pursuing your studies. How do you balance studies and professional football? RN : I am currently waiting for my BA final year results so I have finally finished my studies haha. Football is my bread and butter but i feel that it is also important to have a back up plan and at least have a graduation degree. I have always managed my time well and studies with football was not really difficult. FPA I : How would you rate your performance this season? Shillong finished 5th in the i-league after a strong start. What would be the plan going into the Federation Cup? RN : Personally I feel I have improved a lot after my stint in the ISL. Having said that I know I have miles to go as footballer. I would like to keep improving every day and would like to keep working hard. Going into the Federation Cup we would of course like to do well. We know our limitations and would give every team a fight. FPA I : What do you do when you aren’t playing football? RN : When I’m not playing football I like to hang out with my family and friends,listen to music,play video games with my brothers. FPA I : Tell us a bit about your family. RN : My dad is a business man and mom is a housewife.I have 3 younger brothers .All 3 of them are still pursuing their studies. FPA I : Where do we see you in the next ISL season? Planning to continue with Delhi Dynamos RN : I haven’t planned anything honestly. I still have a contract with Shillong Lajong and would respect their decision when it comes to ISL. Fairplay 05 Interview of Beikhokhei Beingaichho, forward Bengaluru FC FPA I : How did you start playing football? BB : I started playing football at a very early age in my home town. I would kick the football around with the kids from the locality and slowly started getting serious. I kept playing in different age group tournaments in and around my home town and got a call from the IFA Academy in West Bengal. FPA I : What brought you to George Telegraph all the way from Mizoram? BB : As I mentioned I joined the IFA Academy in West Bengal at a young age and kept training there for the next three years. Once I was in the academy the only thing I wanted to be was a professional footballer. When I graduated George Telegraph who were playing the CFL wanted my services and I didn’t hesitate. FPA I : You are in Bengaluru since 2013. What keeps you going here? BB : Their professionalism. For me they are best club in the I-League and I have enjoyed my stay here. This club has given me some great memories and experiences and I will always cherish them. Fairplay 06 .. FPA I : Bengaluru FC went all the way to the AFC Cup final last year. How was the experience ? BB : It was a great experience. You play against some of the top teams in Asia and there is so much to learn from every game. When you play a tournament of that stature you learn on and off the field. Of course having said that we were bitterly disappointed not to win the trophy after going all the way but this year we will give our best again in the competition and try going one up from the last time and win the trophy. It is not going to be easy at all but we believe we have the quality and fighting spirit to go all the way again.