Chennai: Newly-crowned I-League champion, Chennai City FC, was awarded the trophy at a ceremony here Wednesday.
Chennai City FC, who had impressed the fans with their exciting brand of football, pipped Kolkata giants Quess East Bengal by just one point, in a race to the finish that lasted till the final day of the season. “We have put Tamil Nadu football in the map with this win, and Im very happy that the state is getting the recognition. Also, I’m delighted that more and more local players have come through and won the Hero I-League medal,” Chennai City co-owner Rohith Ramesh said. The trophy was handed over to the Coimbatore-based club by All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das and I-League CEO Sunando Dhar. Das highlighted the importance of strategic planning that got the club to the title. “Chennai City FC’s triumph this season has been a true testament of their planning, strategising and execution. I, on behalf of the AIFF, would like to congratulate Rohith Ramesh and the entire Chennai City FC for their achievement, that too only in their third year in the top flight of Indian football,” he said.List of awards for I-League 2018-19: Hero I-League Fair Play Award: Shillong Lajong; Highest Scorer of Hero I-League: Willis Plaza (Churchill Brothers) & Pedro Manzi (Chennai City FC). Hero MotoCorp Best Goalkeeper: Bilal Khan (Real Kashmir FC); Jamail Singh Best Defender Award: Roberto Eslava (Chennai City FC);Hero I-League Best Half (Midfielder) Award: Nestor Jesus Gordillo (Chennai City FC); Hero I-League Best Forward Award: Pedro Manzi (Chennai City FC). Syed Abdul Rahim Best Coach Award: Akbar Nawas (Chennai City FC); Hero of the League: Pedro Manzi (Chennai City FC); Best Home Match Organisers: Quess East Bengal. (PTI)
