Kerala's Santosh Trophy-winning team awarded one-crore cash prize

The team from the southern state beat West Bengal to lift their seventh title.

Kerala beat West Bengal on penalties to clinch the Santosh Trophy 2022 title. The South Indian outfit edged 4-2 on a tiebreaker to lift the silverware after both teams remained unseparated on 1-1 in regulation time. Meanwhile, just after a few days of their seventh Santosh Trophy triumph, Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, who is the chairman and managing director of VPS Healthcare, gave away a cash prize of one crore to the Santosh Trophy-winning team at an event held in Kochi.

The event saw VPS India head Hafiz Ali Ullat and Corporate Communications head Rajeev Mangottil assisting Dr Vayalil in presenting the cheque to the side.

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Apart from the Santosh Trophy 2022 winning team, personalities who had previously played in the tournament were also present at the event. Indian football legend IM Vijayan, former footballer Jo Paul Ancheri, and T.A. Jaffer, who was a member of the team that won the competition for the first time, were present.

Notably, under Jaffer’s tutelage, Kerala won the competition twice. Moreover, coach M. Peethambaran, Anitha Sathyan (wife of former Kerala skipper V.P. Sathyan) and Asif Saheer were some of the notable dignitaries at the event.

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IM Vijayan words

Apart from the collective cash reward of one crore for the team, individual prizes of Rs. 10 Lakhs were also provided to the team’s goal scorers. IM Vijayan, who has played for both Kerala and West Bengal in the Santosh Trophy said at the event, “Such big cash awards...this has never happened before for a Santosh Trophy-winning team and to think of honouring former coaches and captains is a great gesture. Not many think of such things. This will surely inspire the younger generation.”

Meanwhile, IM Vijayan has requested Dr Vayalil to commence forward with a grassroots level academy in Kerala. If such a feat is worked on, then surely it will be of great aid to the state which is currently achieving success in Indian football. Kerala Blasters elevated to the final of the Indian Super League. Gokulam Kerala won the I-League last time and are currently one of the favourites to bag the title.

Their women’s team is working miracles in the Indian Women’s League. Adding to the glory is Kerala’s Santosh Trophy accolade. Hopefully, we’ll also remain witness to the Kerala Premier League reaching the zenith in a few years.

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