NAHARLAGUN, Nov 4: Defending champions Press Sporting Club-B (PSC-B) retained the National Press Day Football Championship title with an emphatic 7-3 victory over Press Sporting Club-A (PSC-A) in a high-scoring final here today.
In an engrossing contest, PSC-B reaffirmed their dominance, with striker Damien Lepcha emerging as the standout performer with a brilliant hat-trick.
PSC-B opened the scoring early in the first half when a delivery from left-back Sonam Jelly took a deflection off an opposition player before finding the net.
PSC-A captain Dodum Yangfo responded with a goal to keep his side in contention and later added another to complete his brace. Central defensive midfielder Sajjal Sarkar also got on the scoresheet with an impressive long-range free-kick from outside the penalty area.
However, PSC-B maintained their attacking intensity. A perfectly weighted pass from Kake Mosing was clinically converted by Lepcha, who continued to trouble the opposition defence before completing his hat-trick to put his side firmly in control.
Konyiang Yangfo further extended PSC-B’s lead with two goals, while Mosing added another to take the defending champions’ tally to seven and seal their commanding 7-3 victory.
The championship featured five teams — Doordarshan Kendra (DDK), Itanagar; Video Journalists FC (VJFC); Arunachal Electronic and Digital Media Association (AEDMA); PSC-A and PSC-B.
At the concluding ceremony, DDK was awarded the Discipline Team Trophy, while PSC-A skipper Dodum Yangfo received the Emerging Player award and finished as the tournament’s highest scorer. PSC-B captain Damien Lepcha was adjudged Best Player of the Tournament, while David Arangham of PSC-B won the Best Goalkeeper award.
Dare Minsang, the tournament’s professional referee, was also felicitated by the club in recognition of his dedication and professional conduct throughout the competition.
The National Press Day Football Championship, an integral part of the National Press Day celebrations, is organized by the Arunachal Press Club (APC) in collaboration with the Directorate of Information and Public Relations, GoAP with support from the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ).
Secretary Sports and Youth Affairs Abu Tayeng attended the final ceremony as the chief guest, while Arunachal Publishers and Broadcasters Guild (APBG) president Chopa Cheda was the guest of honour.
In their brief addresses, they appreciated the organizers for incorporating sports into the National Press Day celebrations, noting that journalists spend considerable time in the field gathering and reporting news, often leaving little room for recreation and physical activities.
APC and APUWJ executive members, Seppa Press Club president Sime Lochung, AEDMA representatives and a large gathering of football enthusiasts were also present.