Lt Col Robert Cup concludes, Esii United FC lift title

Our Correspondent
Senapati, Mar 12 : Esii United FC, Mao lifted the title of the 2nd (L) Lt Col Robert Cup, 2023 at Sanyi Dahrii Memorial Sports Complex, Khabung Karong yesterday.
The tournament that started on March 3  was participated by 16 teams from all over Manipur .
Mention may be made that Lt Col Robert TA was the eldest son of L Thoiba Angeles and K Kareila.
He was born on 24th January, 1982. After completing his schooling from Don Bosco College, Maram and Loyala School, Chennai,  he went on to join Cadets Training Wing at College of Military Engineering, Pune in June 2000. He was also a very good sportsperson during the training days.
Having completed 4 years of military training, Robert got commissioned into the 3rd Engineer Regiment on June 12, 2004 from the prestigious Indian Military Academy, Dehradun. During his service as Captain, he emerged as winner in the renowned Army Adventures Challenge Cup for the year 2008 for which he was awarded the Vice-Chief of the Army Staff Commendation card.
On April 28, 2014, Robert got married to P Chingpai and the couple was blessed with 2 beautiful angels, Pungdila Deborah and Hinga Evelyn.  
On 14th May, 2020, the 38 year old first Army officer from Maram Naga community left for his heavenly abode while leading a patrol party which came under a massive avalanche in North Sikkim.
People remember him till date and dedicate the football tournament in his loving memory to make him live forever amongst people.
The final match between Tiipumei FC, Taphou Naga and Esii United FC, Mao was held in the presence of Col Arnab Mitra, Commandant, 33 Assam Rifles, P Chingpai, wife of late Lt Col Robert and her parents; MLA L Dikho; former MLA Alexander Pao; SDOs, Addl SPs, officers from 33 Assam Rifles including Maj Abhayjeet Singh and others.
Esii United FC, Mao found the opener within 10 minutes of the play, however, Tiipumei FC equalised the margin and took the game to extra time.
The two sides remained unseparated after 30 minutes allotted extra time as well and eventually the winners were decided by penalty shoot-out where Esii United FC won 4-3. The champions were feted with Rs 2 lakh and the runners up settled for Rs 1 lakh. Prizes to the winners were handed over by Brig Bikram Saini, SM, VSM, DIG, 22 Sector, Assam Rifles.