Skipper Alfred Jaryan, coach Khalid Jamil on significance of today's I-League clash vs Bagan which could decide title
Aizawl FC players celebrate a goal against Bengaluru FC during their I-League clash in Aizawl earlier this year. The match ended 1-1
'Never give up' perfectly sums up the story of Aizawl Football Club. The club, tucked away into an extreme corner of India's north east region, had been defunct for 14 years since its inception in 1984, but is now on the threshold of clinching the I-League title if they can beat Mohun Bagan by a two-goal margin at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Aizawl today.
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At the end of last season, the highlanders were relegated from the I-League despite finishing one place above bottom-placed DSK Shivajians. Due to corporate immunity, the Pune side survived relegation. However, Aizawl FC didn't lose hope. They bounced back and reached the final of the Federation Cup and were aptly reinstated by the All India Football Federation (AIFF). Just then, their coach Jahar Das moved on and Khalid Jamil took charge the rest, as they say, is history.
"The difference in Aizawl FC this season is Khalid Jamil. He has managed us like his own team. He motivated us and taught us how to be calm and composed while playing. He always tells us to express ourselves on the pitch, never give up, don't succumb to pressure and just relax while playing," Aizawl FC skipper and prolific forward, Alfred Jaryan, a Liberian international, told mid-day over the phone recently.
Former India footballer, Jamil, who was at the helm of affairs at Mumbai FC for eight years but couldn't do much, said he had a point to prove after taking over as head coach of Aizawl FC. "As a coach, I've never won a title. Even in Mumbai FC, my tenure was not that good, so I have a point to prove here. We have to give it our best shot and ensure our fans are happy. This result so far is because of the good players we have. I just make sure that my interaction with them is 100 per cent," the former Mumbai FC gaffer explained.
With just two games to go, Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan are tied at the top with 33 points each from 16 games. East Bengal FC are placed third on the table with 27 points while defending champs Bengaluru FC occupy the fourth spot with 24 points. "It is the biggest game in the history of the club but we don't need to put ourselves under pressure. (Bagan striker) Sony Norde and the others will come really hard at us, but we will fight till the end," said Jaryan.
If Aizawl do manage a fairytale ending, it will be a script similar to that of English Premier League champions, Leicester City, where fans have played a prominent role in the club's meteoric rise. "In Aizawl, people love football. Every member of a family comes to watch us play. Even on the streets, we get applauded whenever we pass," Jaryan said.
"There's a huge football culture here. The fans are very knowledgeable and know everything about each and every player," added Jamil.
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