IWL title just reward for hard work, says Sethu FC skipper Indumathi
Playing in its second season, Sethu FC was one of the favourites for the tournament and went on to win the competition in style remaining unbeaten in the seven games.
Published : May 22, 2019 21:47 IST
These are exciting times for football in Tamil Nadu especially women’s football. Last year the senior team won the national title before the junior team achieved a similar feat later in the year and on Wednesday, Sethu FC, the Madurai based club clinched its maiden Indian Women’s League title.
Playing in its second season, the team was one of the favourites for the tournament and went on to win the competition in style remaining unbeaten in the seven games.
More importantly, the team had a good mix of local talent as well with as many as six TN players playing in the starting eleven regularly led by captain K. Indumathi.
Speaking after taking her side to the title, Indumathi told Sportstar , “This was a just reward for all the hard work we had put in for close to a month leading into the tournament. Last year, unfortunately, we lost in the semifinals and so this year we wanted to go one step further.”
“We started the tournament with a tough match against Manipur Police where we won 6-4 and that gave us confidence,” said the skipper who was in action in the team’s all three goals in the final including two assists.
Coach Amrutha Aravind said the team had a good preparation heading into the tournament and where it focussed on executing an attacking style of football that saw the club score 45 goals from its seven matches.
“We started preparing three months before when I went to the national camp in Bhubaneswar and scouted for players. At the same time, we ensured we had a good number of TN players as well as we are a club focussed on giving chance to the local players.”
Team owner Seenu Moideen said it was a special win because the team lost to a Manipur-based side Eastern Sporting Union last year in the semifinals, with most players from that side now representing Manipur Police in this year’s competition. “We had a good mix of youth and experience this year with 15 local players in the squad. I hope this win inspires more girls in TN to play the game.”