AIFF all praise for Services and Tamil Nadu!

The 66th edition of the National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy was played from May 11 to 28 across Orissa in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur and Baragarh. It ended yesterday with Services beating Tamil Nadu 3-2 in the final.

The All India Football Federation General Secretary Kushal Das congratulated the Services team for winning the 66th edition of the Santosh Trophy at Cuttack's Barabati Stadium besides their consistent performance and discipline throughout the tournament. This is Services' second triumph in the tournaments long history, the earlier one being in 1960-61.

Mr. Das also hailed the performance of the young Tamil Nadu side who ended up as runners-up. "This was the first time Tamil Nadu made it to the final of the Santosh Trophy after forty years. The average age of the boys was between 23-24 and that's commendable indeed. I sincerely believe the performance will inspire a new generation to take up the sport," Kushal Das said.

Mr. Das also had a word of praise for the President of the Tamilnadu Football Association, Seni Mohinudden. "Under his leadership, football in Tamil Nadu is surely on the rise. His energy, enthusiasm and dedication will certainly go a long way in developing the sport in Tamil Nadu," he added. "I look forward to working with him for the development of the sport in the state and country in general."