NEROCA FC successfully defend CC Meet title by beating SSU on penalties

    19-Jan-2020
By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 19 : NEROCA FC defeated SSU, Singjamei 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw during normal time  in the 62nd CC Meet 2019 final to successfully defend their title at Khuman Lampak Main Stadium today.
Both teams were evenly poised throughout the game sharing fair share of possession and scoring chances before the winners were decided via penalty shoot-out.
SSU found the breakthrough in the 32nd minute under fortuitous circumstance with T Surjakanta converting the chance but NEROCA FC which entered with more purpose after the break drew level in the 48th minute when W Rojen  headed in from close range.
The match was an end to end affair latter on with the two sides looking for the winner but they were forced try their luck on penalty shoot-out as their effort failed to yield the intended result till the end of normal time.
H Shital and M Kabiraj found the target for SSU in this shoot-out as NEROCA FC's Ng Ronald, Varun Thokchom and L Bishorjit scored to make it 4-3 and come out as the eventual winners.
Loitongbam Bishorjit of NEROCA FC and Dangmei Grace of KRYPHSA were presented (men's and women's) footballer of the year trophies along with Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 cash prizes respectively during the valedictory function held today.
M Deben Singh won the Kamini Kumar Memorial Trophy for coach of the year (men) while L Ronibala Chanu bagged the coach of the year trophy.
Fair play trophy of the 62nd CC Meet  with a cash award of Rs 10,000 went to Muvanlai Athletics while Loitongbam Bishorjit Singh of NEROCA FC bagged the best goal keeper trophy and a cash prize of Rs 5,000.
N Sushilkumar of SSU was feted with the best player of the tournament and a cash prize of Rs 5,000 while L Kishan of FC Lamjao, Yami Langvah of YUFC, Cleaven Hmar and Lungthang Kipgen of Muvanlai Athletics who had four goals each in their names were jointly pronounced top scorers of the tournament.
NEROCA's W Rojen Meitei and Y Jiteshwor Singh were respectively feted with best defender trophy and best midfielder trophy of the 62nd CC Meet besides Gift Raikhan receiving the coach of the champion team award of Rs 5,000.
T Surjakanta of SSU was presented best striker of the final match award and a cash prize of Rs 15,000 while his compatriot Th Premjit Singh bagged the best young player trophy and a cash prize of Rs 10,000.
Sh Suresh Singh bagged the Oja Bahadur Memorial Trophy for best referee award as Kh Ranjit was adjudged best assistant referee of the tournament.
Runners up SSU were feted with a trophy and a cash prize of Rs 2,50,000 while winners, NEROCA FC lifted the champions trophy and walked away Rs 5,00,000 richer. KRYPHSA which emerged champions of the 10th Senior Women's Football League for BM Singh Trophy were also feted on the occasion.