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Minerva Punjab created history, as they became the first team from North India to win the I-League title. On a more long-term basis, they have become the first team in 21 years to win the top division in India.
Minerva were leading the rest of the pack for most of the season, but the slipped a bit at the end, letting the likes of Neroca FC, Mohun Bagan and East Bengal back in the title race. They left it until the last day, in fact, to clinch the title in dramatic fashion, as William Okupu scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Churchill Brothers.
Here, we take a look at what some of the biggest names in Indian football had to say about Minerva's historic win on Thursday.
Ranjit Bajaj, Minerva Punjab owner:
Aizawl did it last year, and now we have done it, so that's something great for football. We are a team that sticks together, we don't have many star players. Aizawl was an underdog story, but this was a Bollywood masala. Ups and downs, match-fixing allegations, four teams in the title race, this season had everything.
We just play for each other and work hard. I think Indian football will only progress if you take youngsters and develop them in the main team. If you keep on buying foreign players and keep playing them, then where will the Indian players go?
It feels great. After 21 years, Punjab has got a title. Not only that, we are also the only club in India to be the junior and senior champions.
Shaji Prabhakaran, Delhi Soccer Association chief:
Heartiest congratulations to Minerva Punjab. Them being the champions, it really provides a lot of motivation to the players and fans from North India, to follow football more passionately.
After JCT, they became the first team from North India in 21 years to win the title. So that’s a really big achievement. And also, what they have done with their youth system, especially with the players who made it to the U-17 team, its a great testament to the way they have gone about their job.
Gift Raikhan, Neroca FC head coach:
East Bengal and Mohun Bagan may have failed to win the league, but they are champions of Indian football. But I'm very happy for what we have achieved in the first season. Not sure if I will continue the next season. I will have to ask my wife.
Khalid Jamil, East Bengal head coach:
We lost because we never did the right thing at the right moment. When we needed to attack, we never did. When we needed to defend, we did not. The frequent change of foreigners in the middle of the league was one of the main reason why we did not win.
Here are some other reactions:
