16th AMFA Senior Women’s Football League Rosy scores double hat-trick as YWC-Th lift maiden title, qualify for IWL-2

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, May 30 : Youth Welfare Club-Thambalkhong (YWC-Th)  were crowned the champions of the 16th AMFA Senior Women’s Football League as they trounced Eastern Sporting Union (ESU), Wangkhei Palace Compound 8-2 to complete Super League Round sweep.
By virtue of their top finish in the senior women’s top-flight tournament, they qualified for the Indian Women’s League 2, the second tier National level inter club football competition.
Rosy Thanga dazzled with a double hat-trick (33’, 40+2’, 54’, 56’, 61’, 64’) to fashion YWC-Th the commanding 8-2 win over ESU after the two sides were locked at 2-2 at halftime at Artificial Turf Ground, Lamlong Thongkhong this evening.
Kongkham Priya (15’) and Khumanthem Roshibina (30’) were on target to earn ESU a 2-0 lead in this match before YWC-Th, who had won two of two previous Super League Round matches, bounced back and drew level by the halftime with the help of Rosy Thanga.
 India U-17 international Senjam Alva Devi, who was at the heart of the YWC-Th midfield also added a goal in the 58th minute while Thounaojam Martina, who subbed in for L Russia, slammed the final nail to the ESU’s coffin in the 74th minute.
Earlier in the 4-team Super League Round, YWC-Th defeated FC Imphal 5-1 and thumped YWC-L 2-0.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, president of YWC-Th Johnson Sarangthem expressed pride over the achievement of the girls.
“I am incredibly proud to announce that our girls have emerged as champions! With this victory, our club moves into the IWL-2 next season, where our clear goal is to earn promotion to the top tier of Indian football,” he said.
“Our success is a triumph of pure passion over financial constraints like any other sports loving club of the State,” he said.
“Our players do not come from wealthy backgrounds, and our club operates without major corporate backing. We survive and thrive solely on the generous donations of our local community, fund drives, and the personal contributions of our dedicated club officials.
“While we are ecstatic, our main objective remains unchanged: to groom raw talent and provide young athletes with a proper platform to reach the heights they deserve,” he said.
“Despite our financial struggles, YWC-Th has consistently produced top-class players who now compete in elite clubs across the country. And to everyone’s delight, the club will now be able to compete for promotion in the top flight tournaments themselves,” he said. “This championship belongs to the players, the officials, the entire Thambalkhong community and generous donors,” he said while expressing gratitude to all for believing in the club’s dream.
Earlier in the day, Young Welfare Club, Langthabal (YWC-L) played out a 2-2 draw with defending champions FC Imphal.
Yumlembam Pakpi (39’) and Phanjoubam Abema (74’) were on target for FC Imphal while Chingangbam Binomala (46’) and Konthoujam Daina (60’) scored for YWC-L in this see-saw encounter.
With the result, YWC-L and FC Imphal finished runners up and third place teams while ESU finished fourth.