Gokulam Kerala makes history, crowned I-League champions

Gokulam Kerala makes history, crowned I-League champions

Gokulam Kerala players celebrate with the title

Gokulam Kerala on Saturday clinched their maiden I-League title in spectacular fashion as they came back from a goal down to beat TRAU 4-1 in the final match of the season. In the run to become the first-ever I-League champions from Kerala; Gokulam won four of their last five matches in Phase II.

With Churchill winning 3-2 against RoundGlass Punjab FC, Gokulam Kerala FC shared points with the Red Machines but the Malabarians were crowned champions courtesy of a better head-to-head record. Bidyashagar Singh’s 23rd minute strike did little to stop the Gokulam juggernaut as goals by Sharif Mohamed, Emil Benny, Dennis Antwi and Mohammad Rashid handed them the trophy. 

Gokulam Kerala edged out Churchill Brothers because of their better head-to-head record in the league

Gokulam thus qualified for the group stage of the AFC Cup next season, Asia’s second tier club competition, as I-League champions. They also became the first side from Kerala to win the I-League title.

Speaking right after the match, head coach Vincenzo Annese could not hide his joy and in an elated manner explained what winning the I-League meant to him. “This is the best day of my life. I feel so happy and I feel amazing to be crowned a champion. I am immensely proud of my team and we deserved to be champions. We outscored all teams and we have played like champions in this season.”

“This means everything to me. This is my first season in India and it has already been a very special one. We have a very special team and nobody plays the style of football that we play,” he further added.

A late flurry of goals from Gokulam Kerala handed them the I-league trophy making them the first team from Kerala to ever win the I-league. Sharif Mohamed equalized for Gokulam in the 70th minute as Benny and Antwi added 2 more goals inside 8 minutes to give them a comfortable 3-1 lead at the Yuva Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata. Mohammed rashid added the cherry on top in the 96th minutre to make the scoreline 4-1 and handed them the trophy.

The individual awards were also awarded at the victory ceremony —

Best goalkeeper: Kiran Limbu (RoundGlass Punjab)

Best defender: Hamza Kheir (Churchill Brothers)

Best Midfielder: Phalguni Singh (TRAU)

Top goalscorer- Bidyasagar Singh (TRAU)

Emerging player- Emil Benny (GKFC)

Hero of the tournament- Bidyasagar Singh (TRAU)

Syed Abdul Rahim Best coach of the year award- Nandakumar Singh (TRAU)

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