By Shoubhik Mukhopadhyay,
AIFF Media Team
AIZAWL: What can be the most prized possession in Aizawl at the moment?
A day prior to the Hero I-League decider between Aizawl FC and Mohun Bagan, a ticket of the match slated to be played on April 22, 2017 (Saturday) will make your family and friends jealous. Come Saturday, all roads will lead to the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium to cheer their heart out for the ‘People’s Club,’ as ‘Aizawl FC’ is fondly called.
“All tickets have been sold out almost 5 days back. We’re forced to create some space behind the fence to accommodate some thousand fans more, such is the high demand for tickets,” Mr. Robert Royte, Owner & Chairman, Aizawl FC informed.
“Not only that, even a colossal number of away fans are coming to cut our home fans out, let’s enjoy the fan-battle during the match. Obviously, it’ll be a worthwhile one,” Mr. Royte stated.
The buzz is that almost 500 Mariners are coming to cheer for the green and maroons, which can land them their second Hero I-League title in three years.
“Mizoram has been the epicentre of Indian Football for quite a good time now. We won the Santosh Trophy and our supply line is something which everyone admires. There is a good chunk of Mizo players in the National Team as well. It clearly depicts that Mizoram Football is on the right track,” Mr. Lalnghinglova Hmar, General Secretary, Mizoram Football Association mentioned.
Meanwhile, the hoteliers are churning out a good fortune too amidst the mini-festival in Aizawl. All the hotels at Bara Bazar, Zarkawt Main Road and other areas are filled up to the brim, thanks to the Hero I-League mega-match.
Mr. Zsaiguini Palut, who runs a hotel in Aizawl, chips in: “It’s Football tourism in Aizawl. Football means a lot to us. All thanks to this match, our business has soared up too. Aizawl FC provides us with some real business opportunity as well as a team which is our very own. It’s something which we have always craved for, our own team on the National stage.”
Mr. Hmar, who is also an AIFF Executive Committee member added: “Aizawl FC’s redemption is not at all a stray incident. They came up thick and fast to earn everyone’s respect. Winning the Second Division League, upsetting some Indian football giants and fair results in the age-group leagues clearly underline their efficacy in Indian Football. They reciprocated really well on how All India Football Federation had put the entrust on them.”