Guwahati City FC (GCFC) ended their maiden Hero Indian Women’s League Qualifiers campaign with a 0-0 draw against Himachal Pradesh’s Golazo FC despite a dominant performance in New Delhi on April 5.
GCFC completely dominated the proceedings as forwards Sonia Marak and Sonam Dutta were heavily involved in waves of attack from the very first minute. Golazo defenders had to make several goal-line clearances in the match played at the Dr Ambedkar Stadium, New Delhi.
But, GCFC could not convert the opportunities to goals and the match ended 0-0. With the draw, GCFC finished the qualifiers in the third position. In the opening match, GCFC conceded 12 goals against favourites ARA FC of Gujarat, but the young GCFC team gradually improved. In the second match against Young Welfare Club, Manipur they put up a good fight but lost 0-2.
“This qualifier matches were a great experience for our young team whose average age is 18 years. Playing against national team players was a great learning experience too and we are going to rebuild from this experience,” said GCFC manager and co-founder Kaustab Chakraborty.
He said that GCFC’s next target is Guwahati Inter-Club Women’s League and Inter-Club State League. Chakraborty also requested Assam Football Association to organise State Women’s League so that a club from Assam can participate in the IWL next season.
“Because from the next season only champions of State Leagues organised under All India Football Federation regulations will be allowed to participate in the IWL. There will be no qualifiers from next season,” he added.
In another match of the qualifiers, ARA FC beat Young Welfare Club 4-3 to qualify for the IWL main round.
Guwahati City FC women is the first team from Assam to take part in the IWL qualifiers.
