The Inaugural Edition Of The Bengal Super League Concludes With A High Octane Finale Held At Kalyani Stadium
The inaugural season of the Bengal Super League culminated in a blockbuster Final at the Kalyani Stadium. Howrah Hooghly Warriors triumphed over JHR Royal City FC Malda | Murshidabad after winning 3-2 during extra time after Koustav Dutta scored in the very last minute of the game. After a long and highly successful inaugural season, the league truly lived up to its promise of uncovering grassroots talents, with players emerging from various districts and making their mark on a competitive, professional platform. Both finalists arrived at the summit clash after stellar campaigns, showcasing consistency, character and high-quality football throughout the season.
Howrah Hooghly Warriors took the lead in the 34th minute through Seila Toure after a header from a corner, before JHR hit back just before the break as Sukhchand Kisku scored in the 46th minute, sending the teams into half-time level.
JHR began the second half on the front foot with Avilash Paul producing a fine save in the 47th minute and Amit Tudu making a vital clearance to halt a dangerous Howrah Hooghly attack. The Warriors regained the lead in the 56th minute through the youngster Deep Gain, though the goal was marred by an unfortunate collision with the JHR goalkeeper, Sourav Samanta that left the scorer with a nose injury, forcing him off by ambulance and resulting in a lengthy stoppage. JHR pressed hard for an equaliser missing two big chances around the 70th minute with Tuhin Das striking the post with a stunning effort and continuing to trouble the defence with his direct runs. Deep into extended stoppage time, Md. Sumit capitalised on a counter-attack in the 92nd minute to make it 2–2. Howrah Hooghly thought they had won it late on, but their 95th-minute goal was ruled out for offside, sealing a dramatic draw.
The Winning Goal Came from a direct corner by Koustav Dutta in the very last minute of extra time (120th Minute) to seal a dramatic 3-2 win for Howrah Hooghly Warriors. Despite losing the game, Md. Sumit received The Man of the Match award for his phenomenal performance.
The Final also turned into a celebration of sport and entertainment with a vibrant gala atmosphere surrounding the match. Renowned Playback Singer Aneek Dhar delivered a captivating live performance, adding musical flair to the occasion, while popular actor Abir Chatterjee was present to grace the event. The evening was elevated by the presence of several dignitaries, including Mr Rajib Banejee, Former Minister and Mentor of Howrah Zila Parishad, Mr Nilimesh Roychowdhury, Chairman, Kalyani Municipality, Sri Ashish Maurya, IPS, SP Ranaghat Police District, Mr Anirban Dutta, IFA, Secretary, Mr Bhaskar Ganguly, Technical Director, Bengal Super League, Mr Rahul Todi, Managing Director, Shrachi Sports, Mr Tamal Ghosal, The Chairman, Shrachi Sports, Mr Shibaji Panja, Advisor, Shrachi Sports and Mr Ayan Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, Shrachi Sports, highlighting the growing stature and recognition of the league.
Captain of Howrah Hooghly Warriors, Avilash Paul lifted the Bengal Super League trophy, which was handed over by all dignitaries. The awards ceremony that followed honoured standout performers of the season, with the Top Goal Scorer Award (Golden Boot) going jointly to Paulo Cezar of Howrah Hooghly Warrior and Richmond Kwasi Owusu from Sundarban Bengal Auto FC with a tally of 11 goals. The Best Goalkeeper/Clean Sheet Award (Golden Glove) was claimed by Sourav Samanta from JHR Royal City FC and the Golden Ball (Best Player) awarded to Adama Coulibaly of JHR Royal City FC as well as to Adarsh Tamang of Howrah Hooghly Warriors. Other individual honours included the Fair Play Trophy given to North Bengal United FC, Emerging Player Trophy (U-19) was claimed by Aman Yadav from Howrah Hooghly Warriors, Penalty Shootout Cup being awarded to North 24 Parganas. The winning team got Rs. 50 Lakhs while the runners up team received Rs. 20 Lakhs.
“The Bengal Super League was envisioned as a platform to give talented footballers from various districts the opportunity they truly deserve and the response exceeded all expectations. We saw players rise to the occasion, showcase their abilities and compete with pride and passion while playing along with national and international players of repute. What was equally encouraging was the love and support the league received not just from participating districts but also from other regions that followed the tournament closely and expressed interest in becoming part of it in the future. This season laid a strong foundation for the growth of football in Bengal”, said Mr Rahul Todi, Managing Director, Shrachi Sports.
