IMPHAL, Oct 23: One of the pre-tournament title contenders Manipur Police sports Club (MPSC) suffered the heaviest loss (1-9) in the last match of the 7th Manipur State League football tournament as Southern sporting Union (SSU), Singjamei pipped overnight leaders AIM, Khabam to clinch the league title with a better goal average.

The final match of the 11-team competition, played at Khu-man Lampak Main Stadium today, saw SSU establish an as- tounding 4-0 lead by the break before adding another five in the second half to wrest the title with better goal average at 19 plus compared to 18 plus for the Khabam side, whose representatives declined to accept the runners-up trophy later at the prize distribution ceremony. both were locked at 23 points each.

MPSC finished third on 19 points but Nilakumar fetched the police side a consolation award after scoring the face-saver in the 24th minute to claim the top scorer award carrying Rs 20,000 cash prize.

The championship winning goals for SSU were scored by K Kiran (4th, 11th, 14th), Md Sahidur Rahman (9th, 31st), Suresh Rai (28th), Imran Khan (50th), Riyaz Khan (54th) and A Arun (62nd). The champions bagged the trophy and Rs 2 lakh prize as AIM had to content with half the amount.

SSU's T Raju was declared the best player while TRAU, Kwakeithel was adjudged the best disciplined team.

Closing ceremony of the tournament organised by AMFA was held with State Assembly Speaker Th Lokeshore Singh and Works Minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh as the chief guest and president respectively.

Tournament sponsor (MLA) Kh Joykisan Singh, speaking to newspersons after the match conceded that the last match of the tournament turned out to be a lopsided affair inspite of high expectation that it would be keenly contested. Expressing displeasure on the outcome of the match, he nevertheless pledged to continue as sponsor of the League's future editions.