BHUBANESWAR 30-Sep-2008 107
Government Sports Hostel won the First Division title of the Cuttack Football League, trouncing Rising Star 3-0 in the final at the Reserve Police Ground in Cuttack today. Prakash Dilla clinched the win in style with a brace (33rd and 39th minutes) after Tatun Das drew first blood in the 25th minute.
With this victory, Sports Hostel qualified to represent Orissa in the Federation Cup all-India tournament, next year. The hostel boys received the top prize of Rs 20,000, while runners-up Rising Star were given Rs 10,000. High Court Justice A S Naidu gave away the prizes at the closing function.
New venue, lesser teams, no promotion or relegation and introduction of prize money were the major changes of this year’s league, which commenced on Sept 10. A total of 16 teams, eight less than last year, vied for the title. According to host Orissa Football Association (OFA) secretary M A Alam, the venue was changed as Barabati Stadium, the traditional home, is now undergoing renovation process.
Eight teams (Jobra Durga, SAI Training Centre, Radharaman, Radhagobinda, Sunshine, Orissa Fisheries Morning Club and Chauliaganj) skipped the league this year. Teams were placed in four groups and after the completion of group league, top two side from each group advanced to the super league.
The top four finishers of the super league entered the semifinals. The first division league, featured a total of 39 matches. Defending champions State Bank of India started as title favourites.
GROUPINGS:
Group-A: State Bank of India, Rising Star, Sunrise, Azad Hind
Group-B: Rising Students, Bidanasi, Chand Club, Anchalika SA
Group-C: Government Sports Hostel, Young Utkal, Mangala Club, Western Mahabir
Group-D: Orissa Police, Jaya Durga, Orissa Government Press, East Coast Railway
RESULTS:
SUPER LEAGUE:
Sept 27: East Coast Railway (Gyana Ranjan Samal) beat Rising Students 1-0.
Sept 27: Sunrise drew with Mangala Club 0-0.
SEMIFINALS:
September 29: State Sports Hostel Prakash Dila 16th, Prasant Behera 22, Tatun Das 25) beat Sunrise Club (Salkhu Hembram 19) 3-1.
September 29: Rising Star (Debasis Kujur 12, Seikh Sagir 38) beat East Coast Railway (Hemant Das 25) 2-1.
