Naoba meitei pangambam

Most Valuable Player:  After a wait-and-see approach for the first 45 minutes, the Blue Colts decided to crack the whip in the second session and emerged the SAFF Men’s U19 champions with a vigorous 3-0 triumph over Pakistan at the Dashrath Stadium in Kathmandu, on Saturday.

It was India’s eighth youth title in the SAFF championships, a clear testimony of their regional supremacy.

In a stunning display of talent and composure, substitute Manglenthang Kipgen once again emerged as the hero for the Indians. Following his nerve-wracking winning penalty strike against hosts Nepal in the semi-final on Wednesday, Kipgen continued to shine on the grand stage as he scored the first two goals to literally slam the doors on Pakistan’s ambitions. He probably had no competitor in sight when he was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament.