Dear Colleagues, Please find below the match report of Indian U-15 Women's National Team's clash against Nepal and a report - looking back on Bembem Devi winning the Arjuna Award.
For all other updates and all news and exclusive pictures please follow our Official Twitter Handle *https://twitter.com/IndianFootball <https://twitter.com/IndianFootball>* Also, please follow and like the Official Page of Indian Football on Facebook *https://www.facebook.com/TheIndianFootballTeam <https://www.facebook.com/TheIndianFootballTeam>* Also, please follow and like the Official Account of Indian Football on Instagram *https://www.instagram.com/IndianFootball <https://www.instagram.com/IndianFootball>* *---* INDIA THRASH NEPAL 10-0 IN SAFF U15 WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP *AIFF Media Team* *NEW DELHI:* The India U15 Women’s side scored five goals in each half as they thumped Nepal 10-0 in a totally one-sided group encounter of the ongoing SAFF U-15 Women’s Championship being held at Dhaka, Bangladesh. Hattricks by Priyanka Devi and Sunita Munda was complimented by a brace from Lynda Kom, with goals from Santhiya and Anay Bayi completing the rout. Lynda Kom had opened the scoring in the 4th minute as India went on to pile the pressure on their northern neighbours. But the scoreline didn’t reflect the dominance until Lynda opened the floodgate with her second strike in the 32nd minute. The final third half of the first half saw three more goals being pumped into the Nepal net as Sunita Munda, Santhiya and Priyanka Devi etched their names on the scoresheet with goals in the 33rd, 40th and 43rd minute respectively. Nepal had a chance of their own but they missed their penalty opportunity as the teams went 5-0 into half time. Contrary to expectations India didn’t let the foot off the pedal in the second half as Priyanka got her second of the day in 53rd minute before Sunita too did same in the 62nd minute. Anay Bayi became the fifth Indian on the scoresheet with her strike in 69th minute as the Nepali shoulders dropped and India strolled around with the ball. After few attempts, Priyanka finally scored again in the 76th minute to complete her hattrick before Sunita rounded off the scoreline with her own three-peat in the 86th minute. India next face Bangladesh on December 21 in their final group encounter. --- LOOK BACK 2017: BEMBEM CONFERRED WITH THE ARJUNA *AIFF Media Team* *NEW DELHI:* A journey which began as a childhood love for the game turned a full circle on August 29, 2017 when Oinam Bembem Devi the ‘Durga of Indian Football’ was conferred the Arjuna Award. In process she became the 25th footballer and 2nd woman overall to be awarded so. It had been long wait of 34 years since Shanti Mullick was conferred with the honour back in 1983 but no one was as deserving as Bembem for her service towards women’s football and Indian Football in general. A glittering international career of 21 years was finally given the crown it deserved when she walked up to President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The journey was long and hard but Bembem toiled along. From the fields near home to being restricted by her father from playing football. She had to fight all odds to make it. But unflinching support from her mother ensured that she got the chance to live her dream. Making it to the Manipur U-13 team in 1991 was the first step but it wasn’t until her first India call up in 1995, that she really made it. Adjudged as the AIFF Player of the Year in 2001 and 2013, Bembem was the captain of two SAFF Women’s Championship winning sides in 2012 and 2014. 85 international caps and 21 years later she hung up her boots in 2016. But a new start awaited her in coaching. As a player cum coach, she led her side Eastern Sporting Union to the title in the inaugural edition of the Indian Women’s League earlier this year in February. Even during the announcement of her Arjuna win, she was at the Junior National Football Championship for Girls in Odisha helping unearthing new talent. A giant in women’s football in India and a great servant of the game, here’s hoping she finds more success in her role as a coach and help discover the Bembems of the future. --- *---* Best Regards, Media Department, AIFF. Alternate: [email protected] Website: www.the-aiff.com
