West Bengal and Kerala Ready to Faceoff in the Santosh Trophy Final

Hyderabad, Dec 30 (NationPress) Following a month and a half and a total of 87 matches, the moment of truth arrives with the clock set for 90, or potentially 120 minutes or more at the GMC Balayogi Athletic Stadium in Hyderabad. Here, West Bengal will face Kerala in the final of the 78th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25 on Tuesday.

Both states, recognized as the powerhouses of Indian football, are no strangers to the high stakes of national championships. West Bengal is preparing for an impressive 47th final, while Kerala approaches their 16th championship match in the Santosh Trophy.

Each team has demonstrated form that reflects their esteemed status in the tournament, having won nine out of ten matches, with one draw each.

Historically, Bengal has had the upper hand at this crucial stage, securing the Santosh Trophy 32 times, while Kerala has claimed the title seven times. However, in recent years, Kerala has had the upper hand, clinching the titles in the 2017-18 and 2021-22 seasons by defeating West Bengal in the finals.

Sanjoy Sen, head coach of Bengal, insists that history will not influence the final on New Year’s Eve. “For other states, reaching the Santosh Trophy final is an accomplishment, but not for us. It means nothing to Bengal – Zero!” he emphasized.

“Winning the trophy is the only thing that matters. While we have won the tournament 32 times, the Santosh Trophy has evolved significantly with a greater number of participating states. I don’t want to undermine past achievements, but the competition is tougher now,” Sen added.

His counterpart, Biby Thomas Muttath, shares similar sentiments regarding his home state. “The Santosh Trophy is akin to a World Cup for us in Kerala. We aim to reach the final, but our ultimate goal is to emerge victorious,” he stated.

Both teams have flaunted their offensive strengths throughout their ten matches, with Kerala netting 35 goals compared to Bengal's 27. The southern team has had multiple goal-scoring options, including Naseeb Rahman (8), Muhammad Ajsal (9), and Sajeesh E (5) leading the charge.

Meanwhile, players from Kerala are familiar with their Bengal rivals. Six players from the current Kerala squad, including semi-final hat-trick hero Muhammad Roshal PP, are active in the Kolkata CFL and have become well-known in the Maidan circle.

Bengal, on the other hand, has heavily depended on their two forwards to capitalize on goal-scoring chances – Robi Hansda (11) and Naro Hari Shrestha (7). Sen expressed some concern regarding this dependency on his forwards.

“While it benefits the strikers, I don’t mind who scores as long as we win. It is advantageous to have multiple scorers on the team, which reduces our reliance on Robi or Naro Hari. Yet, I’m pleased to see these players consistently finding the net at this level,” he said.

Despite the evident differences in where each team's key players operate on the field, Biby Thomas believes it will lead to a fiercely contested final.

“I believe any of the four semifinalists possessed the quality to win the tournament, but it’s fortunate or unfortunate that it’s Bengal and Kerala in the final. Both are hubs of Indian football, and we anticipate a challenging matchday,” he remarked.

Hansda, currently leading the top scorers’ list, is eager for his first-ever Santosh Trophy final. “This tournament has been incredible for me. I can hardly believe I’ve scored so many goals. It’s my first final, and I aim to give it my all,” he stated.

Nijo Gilbert, a key player for Kerala in midfield, believes that the developing rivalry between his team and Bengal makes the 2024-25 Santosh Trophy final an exciting event. “There’s a rivalry between Bengal and Kerala – it’s almost like a derby. I think it will be a closely contested game, but we hope to leave with the trophy. What’s crucial for us is to adhere to the strategy our coach has set,” he concluded.