Furious over match between MPSC & SSU, AIM refuses trophy

Source: Hueiyen Lanpao
Imphal : The final match of the 7th Manipur State League (MSL) organised by the All Manipur Football Association (AMFA) which was played between Manipur Police Sports Club (MPSC) and Southern Sporting Union (SSU), Singjamei turn out to be the hate match of the football fans with voices of frustration filled the stadium after seeing the match.

On the other hand, AIM, Khabam Lamkhai who were confident of winning the league got furious over the poor performances of MPSC players and leave the stadioum without claiming the trophy of runner up.
Meanwhile, questions of possible match fixing arises from various sides after witnessing today's match. People of the state were startled after witnessing the match of MPSC who is full of experienced players.

Following the match, DGP Y Joykumar, who is also the Chairman of Manipur Police Sports Club (MPSC) told media that today's incident will remain forever as a dark spot in the history of Manipur Police's sports.
Angered over the action of the MPSC players, DGP said that he will take up actions to ban forever the police players who played today's match and let SSU score nine goals against them.  He also said that it is very unfortunate for police players who has strict guidelines to maintain discipline, coming down to the level of possible match fixing. They will be not be allowed in the field again, he said.

He further said that Manipur Police will groom up a new team instead of the existing players. He has instructed the coaches and Managers of MPSC to submit a report regarding today's match against SSU and the poor performance of the players, he added.

He has talked with AMFA President, Arambam Santoshkumar and requested him to take up stringent actions against the two teams who played today's match and also asked him to derecognise today's result. He will also send an official letter to AMFA tomorrow, he added.

On the other hand, AMFA President, Santoshkumar, Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar, Speaker Th Lokeshwor and MLA Kh Joykishan who graced the closing ceremony also expressed dissatisfaction in today's match.

Meanwhile, AMFA President stated that AMFA will discuss the matter in its Executive Committee meeting on October 27 and take up certain actions to check such incidents in future.

The match was supposed to be an interesting match between the two strong contenders of the MSL trophy. While AIM was confident of winning the winner's trophy with 23 points and a greater goal different than that of SSU. On the other hand, SSU with 20 points had to ensure a win in today's match in order to win the runner up trophy and a goal different of at least eight goals difference in today's match to win the champion's trophy.

With the standing of the team in the point table, AIM and most of the football fans were prety sure that AIM will win the champion's trophy since SSU could not get the goal difference of seven goal against MPSC which could also win the runner up's trophy if they won today's match.

However, on the contrary of the belief and expectation of everyone, MPSC who is also a strong contender of the trophy gave a very comparatively poor performances allowing SSU to score nine goals against them. By the turn of the event, the stadium was filled with angered voices of the spectators.

SSU who beat MPSC 9-1 won the champion's trophy of the 7th MSL by a goal difference of one goal and took home the trophy and a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh.

AIM who were confident of winning the trophy was placed in the second place after today's match but they refused to take the trophy and the cash award of Rs 1 lakh as no one from AIM came forward to claim the trophy. Meanwhile, TRAU Kwakeithel was awarded the prize of Fair Play which carries a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 50,000. I Nilakumar of MPSC who scored nine goals in the league was adjusted top scorer's title and was awarded the trophy along with  cash prize of Rs 20,000.

The nine goals of SSU in today's match were scored by K Kiran, Md Sahidur Rahman, Suresh Rai, Imran Khan and Riyaz Khan. Kiran and Shahidur Rahaman scored three goals each while Suresh, Imran and Riyaz scored one each. On the other hand the lone goal of MPSC was scored by I Nilakumar.

Meanwhile, MLA Kh Joykishan, the donor of the 7th State League said that the final match of the tournament was an unfortunate match and he felt sad that AIM refused the trophy. He also feel the same feeling like the spectators, he said and added that he will discuss the matter with AMFA to avoid such situation in the next edition of Manipur State League.