Hope our Fed Cup show can be a way back to the I-League: Aizawl joint CEO

JAIPUR: As Aizawl FC aim to do a mini Leicester City by defying all odds and upsetting Mohun Bagan's applecart in the Federation Cup final on the morrow, club officials feel there is much more at stake when the two sides – at opposite end of the spectrum – cross swords at the Nehru Stadium in Guwahati.
Failing to beat the drop despite not finishing rock-bottom in the I-League where DSK Shivajians finished last but were not relegated owing to three-year immunity from relegation, the North East side ruffled feathers to reach the summit of the country's premier cup competition.
Jahar Das' side started by pulling off a heist as they beat I-League champions Bengaluru FC 5-3 on aggregate by winning both the home (2-1) and away (2-3) ties in the quarterfinals. Then in the semis, Aizawl shaded Sporting Clube Goa on away goals rule after the second leg finished 2-2 and the first leg was a goalless affair.
But on the eve of the all-important clash, the disappointment of not being able to play in the top tier despite their good showing rankle the club mandarins.
“I hope our performance in the Federation Cup can be a way back to the I-League,” Prince Rufus, joint CEO of the club told TOI.
“Bagan are a very good side but we believe we can put up a fight and complete the fairytale,” added the former Mohun Bagan general manager.
Aizawl have urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to reconsider the relegation with president and owner Robert Royte maintaining that the club deserve to be in the top flight after not only proving their mettle on the pitch but also fulfilling the club licensing criteria.
The last time Aizawl participated in the Federation Cup was in 2012 qualifiers where they had beaten HAL SC 5-1 but finished second in the group on account of their 6-1 loss to Mohammedan Sporting.