Vishnu Prasad By

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Every fairy tale you’ve heard as a kid ends with a ‘and they lived happily ever after’. Not in real life though. There, the story continues from where it ideally should have stopped and keeps taking unsavoury turns till it’s no longer a fairy tale, but a tragedy.

Its been just over a month since Aizawl FC stunned the country and captured headlines around the world by winning the I-League with the most miniscule of budgets. Their dream though is slowly turning sour.

Of course, everyone knew that would be the case, as the Indian Super League was set to ascend to being the country’s top tier in everything but name and Aizawl – the Indian champs – would not be playing in it.

But it has not even gotten to that, for Aizawl’s title-winning squad has been mercilessly picked apart by their I-League rivals. Forget the ISL, Aizawl have an uphill task to remain competent in the I-League next year.

In May, East Bengal announced that they had signed Mahmoud Al-Amna, the Syrian midfielder who was one of the best foreigners in the league last year, and defender Lalramchullova. Then the club struck an even bigger blow by signing Brandon Vanlalremdika, widely regarded as one of the finds of the season. Now the club is set to announce the capture of Aizawl’s title-winning coach Khalid Jamil.

“It’s not official yet, we’ve made him an offer too,” Aizawl’s general secretary Vanlalnghaka Chchawnchhek says. There’s a heavy hint of resignation to his voice.

Apart from Jamil and the aforementioned trio, there are clubs circling over the likes of Kamo Bayi, Zohmingliana Ralte, Ashutosh Mehta, Albino Gomes and Laldanmawia. Jayesh Rane says he has been talking to Chennaiyin FC about re-signing.

When Aizawl march out for the AFC Champions League qualifiers, it’s almost certain that they will be missing the bulk of their title winning squad.

The club’s officials had threatened a hunger strike if they were excluded from an expanded Indian Super League. No protest though will help them prevent richer clubs from breaking their squad up. Aizawl’s fairytale is long over. The harsh realities have set in.

vishnu.prasad@newindianexpress.com