Naro hari shrestha

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Santosh Trophy: Robi Hansda Brings Smiles Back For Bengal After Seven Years

By IANS News December 31, 2024 • 23:24 PM View: 277

National Football Championship: A goal booted in from almost a kissing distance by Robi Hansda deep into the add-on time made all the difference as West Bengal regained the coveted National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy after seven years, defeating Kerala 1-0 in the final at the Gachibowli Stadium here on Tuesday. This was West Bengal’s 33rd title in the National Football Championship, but the emotional fillip the victory generated was not to be missed as the players kissed and hugged the trophy.

Hansda, a prolific striker, who scored his 12th goal in the 78th edition of the tournament and brought a dramatic change in the final, went wild with joy after scoring the match-winner and took off his shirt to celebrate, which immediately called for a yellow card.

But it didn’t stop Hansda from running away with two top individual awards of the tournament – the Tulsidas Balaram Player of the Match award and the Peter Thangaraj Player of the Tournament Award. Given the way Hansda carried his team on his shoulders right from Day One of the tournament, it was perhaps impossible to think of another contender for the awards. As the match was slowly moving towards a contest to be decided in the extra-time or through the penalty shootout, Kerala's defence found itself completely off-guard when striker Manotos Maji headed forward a ball in the box in the 90+4th minute after receiving a lob from the left.

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