Want to prove detractors wrong, says Bala Devi
The women's league has a more competitive look this season.
Having missed out last season, Bala Devi is all geared up to make her mark in the ongoing Hero Indian Women’s League. The national women’s team skipper says she is “determined to prove detractors wrong” with her performance.
“I want to perform at my best. After my injury, people said I’m finished. I’m determined to prove detractors wrong,” says Bala.
Plying her trade for KRYHPSA in the women’s league, Bala has already made people sit up and notice with her team’s 5-0 demolition of Sethu FC. “Everything clicked for us. It was a perfect day of football for the entire team. Personally too, I’m happy that I was able to score and was involved in two other goals. But this is just the beginning. Anything can happen,” she says of her performance.
The women’s league has a more competitive look this season. Traditional powerhouses of women’s football, Manipur have two teams vying for the title —defending champions Eastern Sporting Union and KRYHPSA.
While the former is led by the legendary Bembem Devi, the latter has Chaoba Devi in the captain’s role. With India regulars in their ranks, the teams have a strong composition and are the ones to beat. But the others too have strengthened their ranks.
Last year’s finalists Rising Students Club, Sethu FC, India Rush SC, Indira Gandhi ASE and Gokulam Kerala FC all have a good mix of youth and experience and can beat any team on their day.
Bala knows this and has her take on it. “The IWL has certainly grown this year. Each team has the ability to win against the other. So we cannot take anyone lightly.
“Sethu has Tamil Nadu players who did well in the women’s senior NFC as well as Indira. Rising have strong set of players so do Rush and Gokulam.”
Fazila shines in Gokulam win
On Saturday, Gokulam Kerala FC decimated a hapless Indira Gandhi Academy SE side 6-1 to notch up their first win in the IWL in Shillong.
Ugandan striker Ikwaput Fazila scored five goals for the winners. Anita Rawat was the other scorer for Gokulam while Sumithra Kamaraj reduced the margin for Indira Gandhi ASE.