With the 66th match of a season that started on April 15, not to forget the two years of pandemic-induced delay in its commencement, the fifth season of the Indian Women's League will draw curtains on Thursday with a virtual final between Gokulam Kerala and Sethu FC at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
While the two contenders for the title have been a rank above the rest in the 12-team field throughout their campaigns, the final duel has been left for the last with both remaining unbeaten, albeit with Gokulam taking field for the clash with a superior goal difference over their Tamil Nadu rivals.
The Kerala side would be eager to bag the IWL crown and make Gokulam Kerala the first Indian club whose men's and women's teams to successfully defend their domestic titles.
And to make that wish a reality, Gokulam have a squad of experienced national team players and foreigners who have run amok against most sides with their attack. At the forefront of it, they have the strike duo of the league's top scorer so far - Ghanaian Elshaddai Acheampong with 19 goals in 10 games and the young Indian winger Manisha Kalyan with 13 strikes in the same number of matches.
With veterans like midfielder Dalima Chibber and India defenders Ashalata Devi, Ranjana Chanu and skipper Aditi Chauhan in their ranks, Gokulam's defence has also been a fort that teams have found hard to breach.
But coach Antony Andrews, while acknowledging 'the amazing feeling' and having his players 'pumped up' for the meeting, was wary of Sethu's strengths that have kept them undefeated so far. "Sethu is a very good team. Their attacking unit is quite impressive. They have multiple goal scorers. We've seen their games and are ready to counter it," Andrews said on Wednesday.
While Sethu's goal difference is 22 less than the defending champions, the team from Tamil Nadu has also shown their prowess and merits as an attacking unit. Mostly comprised of state players and led by India national Sandhiya Ranagnathan, the Seeni Mohaideen-founded club has been an impressive tale of resilience and hard work in Indian women's football.
"It's been a long journey and we are well-prepared and confident for the final game. We are ready to bring the trophy back home," Ranganathan declared.
Although lacking big names unlike their esteemed opponents, the Crispin Chhetri-coached side has the arsenal in players like Anju Tamang, Renu Rani and Elizabeth Vanlamawii to inflict shock on the favourites in the do-or-die clash.
"This match is all about my players. They need to have the belief that they are the best. If they do that, I think they can bring home the trophy," Chhetri stated.
In the other matches on the final day, fifth-placed Sports Odisha will take on bottom dwellers Mata Rukmani while there will be a face-off between the 3rd and 4th-placed teams in Kickstart FC and Indian Arrows.
