Bethany Society win 3rd NE Blind Football Tourney

SHILLONG: Bethany Society of Shillong won the 3rd North East Blind Football Tournament, organised by the Indian Blind Football Federation (IBFF) in association with Bethany Society, 1-0 in a penalty shootout at Shillong Public School here on Saturday. Bethany Society and North East Shower Blind Football Club (NESBFC) could not find a goal in normal time thanks to some great defending and goalkeeping and it was the Shillong side’s prolific scorer Gabriel Nongrum who was the only player to find the back of the net in the tiebreaker. The semifinals were held in the morning, with Bethany Society coming through against FABB Kolkata 4-0. NESBFC, nominally designated from Arunachal Pradesh but with representation from around the North East, got to the title match in a 1-0 victory over Moran Blind School of Assam in the other semifinal. It was a terrific final day of blind football and a fitting culmination to a heartwarming and exciting tournament and the IBFF plans to include several players who took part in the tournament in its Kochi academy. The champions took home Rs 25,000 in prize money, with Rs 15,000 going to the runners-up.