Despite being flooded with phone calls, Alemao was thinking of his mom's last words. "We finished runners-up four times and whenever I grumbled, my mother would tell me that I will win the title one day... She passed away last year but her words are still ringing in my ears," Alemao told DNA from Goa on Friday.
The Goa-based club owner, with heavy heart, also recollected how his brother died. "I have lost them and that cannot be forgotten... But winning the league has given me some solace," Alemao said in a choking voice.
On coach Zoran Djordjevic's contribution, Alemao was quick to respond. "He is our lucky coach... We have hired coaches from Russia and other countries also but we were not lucky under them but this time we were," Alemao quipped.
He, however, credited the players for the success. "Our team is a good team and everyone came out with brilliant performances but to name a few are Naoba Singh, Khentang Paite, Vashum, Chitrasen Chandam Singh, Gourmangi Singh and of course Odafa, who is a magic player," Alemao felt.
Alemao reminded that Igor and Yusif Yakubu have also emerged top-scorers donning the Churchill Brothers' colours and now Odafa has claimed the honour thrice in a row. "All these years, we could have clinched the title five times, but our luck didn't click," the proud owner said.
Satisfied with the way the story unfolded this time, Alemao heaped praise on the ailing AIFF president, Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, for the development of the game. "We all pray for his fast recovery. He set Indian football in right path with his ideas and administrative capacities," Churchill Brothers supremo felt, adding that now it is the task of the respective state governments to improve the level of the game. "We also want to see India playing in World Cup and I believe that is not impossible."