It was a perfect Valentine’s Day for Mumbai teams, champions PIFA Sports, runners-up S.P. Football Academy as they received their respective WIFA Women’s Football League 2021-2022 trophies during the official prize-distribution function at the Cooperage ground on Tuesday evening.
PIFA Sports players, Head Coach Nirvan Shah and Manager and Founder Anjali Shah receive the Champions Trophy from Chief guest, Chhatrapati Madhureema Raje, during the prize distribution function of the WIFA Women’s Football League 2021-2022 .
Chief guest, Chhatrapati Madhureema Raje, Chairperson of WIFA Women’s Committee and member of AIFF Women’s Committee, presented the ‘Champions’ and Runners-up trophy to the players, coaches, and support staff of the two teams.
Raje lauded the efforts of all the players who participated in the long WIFA Women’s Football League, which was suspended midway due to the Covid-19 restrictions. “I congratulate all the players, the coaches, and the management of all the teams for being brave during these difficult times and coming out to play in this competition,” she mentioned.
PIFA Sports narrowly finished at the top of the 10-team league with a tally of 25 points (8 wins, 1 draw) and walked away with the top honours.
S.P. Football Academy, Thane finished a close second with 24 points (8 wins, 1 loss) to finish runners-up. Footie First with 19 points was placed third.
PIFA Sports has now qualified to participate in the AIFF Indian Women’s Football League 2021-2022.
Souter Vaz, Hon. Gen. Secretary WIFA mentioned that a second team from Maharashtra could possibly participate in the IWL. “Not many states conducted their WFL and may not have a representative to participate in the IWL, so there is a likelihood that AIFF may request us (WIFA) to send two teams,” Vaz stated, with a note of optimism.
Vaishnavi Pawar (9 goals and 3 player-of-the-match awards) of Krida Prabodhini, Pune was declared as the ‘Best player of the Tournament’ while Sasmita Behera (scored 10 goals) won the award for the ‘Highest Goal-Scorer’.