KLASA Football Club (simply known as KLASA) is an Indian professional football club based in Keinou, Bishnupur, Manipur. It was the 2022 season champion of Manipur State League, but not granted the I-League 2 nomination. However, they joined the newly-established I-League 3.[1][2]
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| Full name | Keinou Library and Sports Association Football Club | ||
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| Founded | 1972 | ||
| Ground | Khuman Lampak Main Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 35,285 | ||
| Owner | KLASA Pvt Ltd | ||
| Head coach | Y. Norton Singh | ||
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History edit
Beginning edit
The Keinou Library and Sports Association, known as KLASA FC at the present day, was registered in 1972. KLASA aimed to look for development in the library and sports field in Keinou and adjoining areas. One of the pioneering personalities of KLASA was Chanambam Prakash Singh, a player of Indian Air Force. He started conducting training at Keinou Kangjeibung, and KLASA emerged as district champion in the consecutive years of 1976, 1977, and 1978. KLASA also claimed victories among the various inter-district tournaments. Thus, the club's popularity increased yearly.
Manipur State League edit
KLASA first got promoted to the Manipur State League, the top tier league of Manipur, in 2014. In the 2017 season, KLASA FC staged a league upset by finishing at the top of the table. However, they lost to NEROCA FC in the final and end up being the runners-up.
MSL came back after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2021 season. KLASA finished the league toppers and qualified for the final stage. KLASA beat Sagolband United 2-1 in the semi-final and emerged as champions after defeating SSU 1-0 in the final, grabbing the title of the champions of Manipur for the first time.
In the 15th edition of the Manipur State League, KLASA finished second in the group stage. In the semi-final match, KLASA faced KIYC and entered the final after beating them comfortably. KLASA FC defeated RAU 3-0 in the final match and became the consecutive champions of Manipur.
I-League 2 edit
After winning the 2022 Manipur State League, KLASA qualified for the I-League 2.[3] Instead of nominating them as per the AIFF regulations, the state association nominated another team, KIYC who went out in the quarter final. After a series of appeals by the club and protests against the unfair treatment to its league champions, no team from Manipur played in the following I-League 2 season.
I-League 3 edit
KLASA's dream of playing in the national stage finally started to take shape after they got nominated for the 2023–24 inaugural I-League 3 season.[4][5][6] In the first round, they were placed in Group B along with Baroda, Sports Odisha, Jaipur Elite, and United Chirang Duar. KLASA became the table toppers without losing a single match, winning 1–0 against Baroda in the first match, drawing 0–0 with Jaipur Elite, winning 1–0 against Sports Odisha, and beating United Chirang Duar by 2–1 in their final match. As table toppers, KLASA beame the first team to reach the playoffs, but could not progress any further. In the final round (play-offs), the club finished their campaign in fifth place.[7]
Players edit
First-team squad edit
- As of 23 November 2023
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours edit
Domestic league edit
Domestic cups edit
- Shirui Lily Cup
- Runners-up (1): 2021[10]
- K. Shantibala (AJSA) Football Tournament
- Winners (3): 1997–98, 2003–04, 2009–10[11]
- Jiri Cup
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "KLASA FC Keinou fetes Huidrom Sunita". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "63rd CC MeetKLASA FC confirm semi-final berth, Serto Worneilen stars as CFA win 7-goal thriller". www.thesangaiexpress.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "KLASA FC Keinou emerge champion of MSL". Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Major AIFF Decisions: 15 Clubs Nominated In 3rd Division; Youth Quota In I League Teams". thefangarage.com. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
- ^ "AIFF League Committee: Youth quota for I-League, State FAs nominate 3rd Division League clubs". The Away End. 22 August 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
- ^ Lopes, Flavio (25 September 2023). "THIRD DIVISION: Dempo to play at home, Sporting away". timesofindia.indiatimes.com. Panaji: The Times of India. TNN. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ "I-League 3 2023/24 — Final Standings (Play-off's)". the-aiff.com. All India Football Federation. Archived from the original on 31 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ "The Away End: Manipur-State-League-2021-Final-KLASA-FC-vs-SSU". www.google.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Final Match of 14th Manipur State League 2021 at Artificial Turf Ground, Khuman Lampak, Imphal :: 3rd February 2022 ~ Pictures from Manipur". www.e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ Zimik, Mungchan (5 December 2021). "Shillong Lajong FC emerge champs of 29th Shirui Lily Cup". thesangaiexpress.com. Ukhrul: The Sangai Express. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "Klasa script win in AJSA Cup: 18th jan09 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "KLASA lifts Jiri Cup : 10th feb15 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 16 June 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
- ^ "12th Jiri Cup KLASA blank RAU 3-0 to reach final: 14th feb18 ~ E-Pao! Headlines". e-pao.net. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
External links edit