Neroca FC become first Manipuri club to qualify for the I-League
All India Football Federation congratulated Manipur’s Neroca FC on winning the Second Division League 2016-17. Neroca FC drubbed Lonestar Kashmir FC 4-1 in Kashmir on May 22 to become the first ever Team from Manipur to achieve the feat.
The victory lifted
Neroca to 23 points from 9 matches, 7 points clear of Kolkata’s Southern
Samity.
AIFF General Secretary
Mr. Kushal Das lavished praise on the champions saying: “After Aizawl FC's
success we have another team from the North East who are keeping the flag
flying high. Congratulations Neroca FC on winning the Second division League. I
am sure their achievement will encourage more to take up the sport and spur off
another social revolution, this time in Manipur."
Mr. Sunando Dhar, CEO,
I-League also lauded the Manipur-outfit. "After Shillong Lajong FC came up
the ranks to represent the Northeast region in the National Football map,
Aizawl FC set an example recently. Northeast has always been the hotbed of
Indian Football and Neroca FC would, surely, take the legacy forward,” he
stated.
"With Neroca FC's
introduction into the top flight Indian Football, the competition in the
Northeast region will definitely be fiercer and tougher.”
Following their sole
loss in the zonal round to Mohammedan Sporting in January 2017, Neroca FC went
on to continue an enviable unbeaten run of 12 matches including today's win
against Lonestar Kashmir FC. In the final round, the Gift Raikhan-coached side
conceded only three goals in eight matches while netting not less than fifteen.
