Chief Minister Shri Lal Thanhawla congratulated home club Aizawl Football Club on their victorious win and being crowned Champion of the Hero I League, the country’s highest professional football league after a 1-1 draw with Shillong Lajong yesterday. He said AFC’s win is a proud watershed moment in the sports history of the state, it is something in which both the Government and the people of Mizoram take equal pride in, he added. In his congratulatory message to the Club, he said through their win, AFC has sent out the message that even from one of the remotest states that lacks infrastructure and investment, success can be scripted through sheer determination, hard work, a missionary zeal and will power. He congratulated the players of AFC, the management of the Club, the Mizoram Football Association for their support and guidance and to the people of the state for their support and love of football.

It may be added that Chief Minister Shri Lal Thanhawla was well known sportsman in his youth and played football and hockey and represented Mizoram when it was a District of Assam in the early 1960s in number of tournaments. He was the Founder Presidents’ of the Mizoram Football Association, Mizoram Hockey Association and Mizoram State Olympic Association. At present, he is the President of the Mizoram Cricket Association.