All three finals of the State Level Subroto Cup 2023 were decided by penalty shootouts in an enthralling final day of the inter-school and inter-district competition today at the SAI Centre in NEHU.
HK Sing Secondary School of West Jaintia Hills were champions of the U-14 boys’ division, Saiden Secondary School of Ri-Bhoi the U-17 girls’ victors and Assam Rifles Public School of East Khasi Hills the U-17 boys’ champions.
The U-14 boys’ title match was goalless throughout but HK Sing held their nerve better against KB Memorial SS 4-1 in the tiebreaker.
The lone girls’ game was also without a goal scored in open play and Saiden took victory 4-2 in the shootout against the defending champions Iewrynghep SS of East Khasi Hills.
There were some goals in the third and last match of the day, with ARPS taking the lead on two separate occasions through Phermanbha Lyngdoh (19′, 38′). ARPS have burst onto the local football scene this year after signing an agreement to be the local partners of Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools.
However, they were given a determined fight by Rymbai Presbyterian HSS of East Jaintia Hills, who scored via Besterly Ksih (21′) and Sokiwa-oo Bareh (60’+2).
This match thus also had to be decided on penalties and Assam Rifles came through what was a nail-biter 5-4.
Present on the occasion were Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Shakliar Warjri, Director of Sports and Youth Affairs Isawanda Laloo, Meghalaya State Olympic Association working president John F Kharshiing, Director of SAI Shillong Training Centre P Chauhan and others.
Individual award winners:
U-14 boys’ – Best Goalkeeper – Novem F Siangshai (KB Memorial); Best Player – Budmi-ha-oo Mukhim (HK Sing)
U-17 girls’ – Best Goalkeeper – Yulity T Phanrang (Iewrynghep); Best Player – Diamon Mawkhroh (Saiden)
U-17 boys’ – Best Goalkeeper – Oinam Abin Singh (Assam Rifles); Best Player – Bankerbha Dkhar (Rymbai Presbyterian)
