MALAPPURAM: In an eventful summit clash, hosts Kerala came back from behind and eventually got the better of West Bengal 5-4 in a penalty shoot-out to emerge champions of the Hero 75th National Football Championship for Santosh Trophy on Monday at the Manjeri Payyanad Stadium in Malappuram.
The hosts now have seven Hero Santosh Trophy titles to their name and it was the first time they won the competition on home soil since 1993.
It was West Bengal's 46th final overall but they could not add to their record 32 titles and Kerala continued their recent dominance over West Bengal. They had beaten the same side in the first round, as well as in the 2018 Santosh Trophy final, which had also gone to penalties after the game ended in a stalemate.
Dilip Orawn had given the away side the lead in the first period of extra time before a late equaliser to take the game to penalties from substitute Bibin Ajayan. Bengal's second penalty was squandered by substitute Sajal Bag while Kerala had hundred percent accuracy to take the title home as fireworks illuminated Malappuram's sky and wild celebrations in the stands ensued.
UAE businessman's Rs1cr cash award
While the winner's cheque for the victorious Kerala side is only Rs 500,000, the team will be richer by all of Rs 10 million (Rs 1 crore) thanks to UAE-based Indian entrepreneur Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, who had announced the hefty cash award if his native state took home the trophy.
Dr Shamsheer, chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare, tweeted that he will offer Kerala football team a cash prize of Rs 1 crore if they lift the trophy.
“As a fellow Malayali, it’s heartening to watch Kerala playing the final of the Santosh Trophy. The team has displayed fantastic performances throughout the tournament. I hope they will be able to lift one of the most coveted trophies in Indian football,” Dr Shamsheer had said ahead of the final.
Earlier, Dr Shamsheer had given a cash prize of Rs 1 crore to the Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who hails from Kerala and played a key role in India winning the historic Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
Individual prizes
Top Scorer of the Championship (Rs 25,000): TK Jesin (presented by IM Vijayan)
Best Goalkeeper of the Championship (Rs 25,000): Priyant Kumar Singh (presented by Gouramangi Singh)
Hero of the Championship (Rs 25,000): Jijo Joseph (presented by Ahammed Dever Kovil (Hon. Minister for Port)
Medals for the Runners-up: West Bengal (presented by MB Rajesh, Speaker of Kerala Assembly, KN Balagopal, Minister for Finance)
Cheque for Runners-up (Rs 3,00,000): West Bengal
Medals for the champions: Kerala (presented by V Abdurahiman, Minister for Sports, Rajesh, Balagopal)
Champions' Cheque & Trophy (Rs 5,00,000): Kerala
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