Churchill Alemao calls for a rally, party to celebrate triumph

Panaji: The All India Football Federation (AIFF) may have kept the decision on hold but for Churchill Alemao, his team is already the I-League champion.

Churchill Brothers finished on top of the I-League table with 40 points at the end of all matches. They finished a point ahead of Inter Kashi, but AIFF said the two-time former champions must await the result of the AIFF appeals committee’s hearing on the match between Namdhari FC and Inter Kashi.

Regardless of what AIFF thinks, Churchill are already celebrating.

“I thank each and every Goan, all my supporters across the world, my prayers have been answered,” Alemao, the club owner, said in a video message on Sunday. “My dream was to win I-League and play in the ISL. We have made it.”

To celebrate the team’s success, Alemao asked his supporters to show up in numbers when the team arrives at Dabolim on Monday at 8.30pm, and then join them for a rally from the airport to his residence in Varca.

“Come with whatever you have: motorcycles, cars. I am calling everyone. At home, we will have a party,” said Alemao, whose team has won the I-League twice before in 2008-09 and 2012-13.

Club CEO Valanka Alemao said she was immensely proud of the team after they led the I-League table from start to finish.

“It was a struggle, but we managed to do it with blessings from God and the support of all Goans. My father is the pillar of Goan football. His big wish was to play in the ISL. This is like a dream come true,” said Valanka.

In the concluding league clash in Srinagar on Sunday, Lalramsanga (7’) gave Real Kashmir the lead, sparking some hopes, but Rafiq Aminu (50’) equalised for Churchill to ensure that they stay at the top of the table.

Churchill pressed for a win but Real Kashmir remained resolute in defence, and finished the season without a single loss at home.