UDALGURI, Oct 10 � Five time champions Assam Rifles retained the Gold Cup of the 17th Bodofa Upendra Nath Brahma Football Championship which concluded today here at the Udalguri Stadium. The team defeated last year�s champion SSB, Siliguri 2-0 in the closely-contested match.
From the beginning, both the teams tried their best to prove their supremacy but the riflemen were able to gain the upper hand. Assam Rifles striker Joseph Hasda opened the account in the 43rd minute.
Bulu Zigdung, star striker of Assam Rifles, found a beautiful gap to hit the net of SSB in the 85th minute to make it 2-0 and seal the match for the his team.
The riflemen lifted the UN Brahma Gold Cup in 1998, 1999, 2005, 2006 and 2007 playing against the Williamson Magor Football Academy, Harisinga Regional Sports Association, Lajong Sports Club of Shillong (two times) and ASEB, Guwahati respectively. Earlier, Hemendra Nath Brahma, president of Assam Football Association inaugurated the match.
In the prize distribution ceremony, Hemendra Nath Brahma, president of AFA handed over the Gold Cup to Assam Rifles. Rihon Daimary, Minister of PHE and president of Udalguri District Sports Association handed over the runners-up trophy to the SSB. Omana Kuttan of Assam Rifles was adjudged the best player of the championship.
