In an incredible feat, Bengaluru FC on Sunday were crowned national club champions for the second time in three seasons. The Bengaluru-based team beat Goan giants Salgaocar FC 2-0 at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in front of their home fans to secure a much deserved I-League title with a match to spare. Winning a second title in only three years of its existence is quite a feat in itself, but this win is more special than the first. Almost a year ago, Ashley Westwood’s side had surrendered their trophy in a gut-wrenching fashion when they conceded a late equaliser to Mohun Bagan in a home game, which enabled the Kolkata club to win their maiden I-League title after a long wait of 13
years.Westwood termed it as the “worst day of his life” and
vowed to reclaim the title this season. However, the journey to
their second title was not easy. After the league was reduced
to just nine teams, giving each team only 18 games to play, it
made the fight tighter and intense. What helped Bengaluru
was that they now had the mentality
of chasers; the crown was in
sight and their hunger to reclaim it
fueled their campaign.
Bengaluru, for the most part
were not at their best, but they had
a sound game plan which proved
effective enough to deliver. They
were not the fluent side of the inaugural
season, but more pragmatic
in their approach under the shrewd
leadership of Westwood, a former Manchester United youth
player and Blackburn Rovers assistant coach. Westwood’s
formula, that two points per match was enough to clinch the
title, proved right as the Blues secured 32 points in 15 matches.
At the business end, it was about thwarting the challenge
of the two title contenders from Kolkata ” holders Mohun Bagan
and East Bengal, who ran out of steam in the last few legs
of the league.
However, most of the credit for delivering the second title to
the fanatic fans of the Blues, goes to Westwood. The Englishman
and his team has developed the most professional setup
at the club, which was only formed in 2013.
Westwood had plenty to contend with this season. He had
to adapt to the absence of his key midfielders Joshua Walker,
out for the entire season, and Eugeneson Lyngdoh, out for
nearly half of it. He had to carefully manage player fatigue
since the I-league closely followed both the SAFF Championship
and the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL).
Despite the difficult situation, the manager kept faith in his
young Indian players and his adherence to the league’s Under-
22 rule is laudable.
Bengaluru’s title triumph is also a case study in team effort.
The club’s highest goal-scorers, Sunil Chhetri and Kim Song
Yong, are tied at only five goals each. Five other clubs in a
nine-team league have top scorers with an equal or higher
number of goals. That means Bengaluru are not a one-man
team and everybody, especially youngsters like CK Vineeth,
Lyngdoh and Doungel have contributed at key moments.
With both the young and the experienced working to deliver
the title, Bengaluru have set a great model for the other teams
to follow. They are worthy champions of India.
