For a football-crazy state, there can be no better way to mark an auspicious occasion. And as the whole country was gripped in a frenzy of celebrations to commemorate the 75th year of independence, Mizoram joined in by hosting a series of football tournaments across the state that culminated in the finals on Monday.
The Independence Day Football Tournament 2022, hosted by Mizoram Football Association (MFA) across 11 districts of the north-eastern state, saw over nine thousand footballers being part of 409 teams that competed in the oldest tournament of Mizoram.
"Throughout the land, Zone Football Associations, District FAs, culminating to the Mizoram Football Association, freedom is celebrated on the biggest scale with the Independence Day Football Tournament. That is 9305 players, 409 teams, all competing in the name of independence," MFA said in a statement.
"The Independence Day Football Tournament in Aizawl is set up for the eight Mizoram Premier League clubs by the Mizoram Football Association. A tradition started in 1982, this is the oldest football competition currently under the MFA."
While the competitions for different age groups among men and women were spread across the state, the senior men's Independence Day Tournament was hosted in Aizawl with the eight clubs of the Mizoram Premier League contesting for the trophy.
New Vision Academy players and staff after emerging women's champions in Aizawl on Monday. (Pic Credit: MFA)
In a closely-contested final on Monday, Mizoram Police took home the champions' honours by beating Aizawl FC 2-0. Played at the open ground of Lammual - the under-construction stadium in the capital - Laldawngliana Colney broke the deadlock in the injury time of first half and Lalbiakhlua took matters out of Aizawl FC's reach in the 89th minute.
It was a culmination of 693 matches that were played over the month across the districts. Mizoram Police were one of the 27 champions decided on the day with New Vision Academy lifting the trophy for the women's champions and G90's earning the honours in the veterans' event.
In the early summit clash at Lammual, New Vision Academy edged past the Govt. Central HSS team 2-1 with goals from Gospel Vanlalsawmi (33') and Jeny VL Hmangaihsangi (59') while Lalrinchhani (70') tried to bring parity for the runners-up with a solitary strike.
In the veterans' final, the G90'S emerged winners by beating Mizoram Police Veterans 2-1.
The other finals on the day were played across the state with the district association of Kolasib hosting the youngest age group at the tournament - the U-14 category.
