14-year-old's 35-yard stunner helps Bombay Scottish get off to winning start against St Lawrence
Aheed Shaikh scored a brilliant 35-yard goal in the 41st minute for Bombay Scottish as the Mahim school beat St Lawrence, Kandivli 1-0 to win their Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) U-16 Div I tie at Azad Maidan yesterday.
Aheed Shaikh of Bombay Scottish unleashes a right-footed drive against St Lawrence in an MSSA U-16 Div I game at Azad Maidan. Shaikh scored the lone goal of the game. PIC/Atul Kamble
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Scottish have been very competitive over the past few years but have fallen short when it comes to winning the title — they last won the U-16 crown in 2001. And this is something Shaikh wants to improve upon this season.
“For us studies are more important than football. We believe in striking a balance between the two. Finishing in the top-four was not bad at all. But, this year we do have a good team and will aim for a top-two finish,” said the Bandra resident.
Shaikh is observing the holy month of Ramzan at the moment but makes an exception on match days, as fasting on these days could take a toll on him.
“It is very difficult to play when you fast.
Hence, when I have a match I do not keep my fast. Even my parents support my decision. I want to give my 100% to whatever I do, be it fasting, studies or football,” said the 14-year-old.
u00a0Shaikh recalled that he started playing as a six-year-old and has been hooked to football ever since. “Nobody in my family plays the sport. It was my friend Amaan Siddique with whom I started going for practice and since then got hooked to football. I feel that if I play well, I am bound to get good grades in school too.”
Scottish coach, Adip Kenkre, is glad that his boys have started the season on a winning note. Praising Shaikh, Kenkre said, “For me it doesn’t matter if my team loses or wins as long as they play a fair game. Today, Aheed stole the show.
The 35-yard goal he scored was a treat to watch. He dominated the proceedings. If we play the way we did today, we can go a long way in the tournament.”
MSSA inter-school results
> At Azad Maidan: Christ Church (Byculla) 1 (Rayyan Shaikh) bt Jamnabai Narsee (Juhu) 0; St Francis D’Assisi (Borivali) 2 (Ronak Coutinho, John Danny) bt St Lawrence (Borivali) 1 (Harsh Solanki); St Stanislaus (Bandra) 4 (Isaac Cardozo 2, Ryan D’Souza, Reuben Fernandes) bt St Mary’s SSC (Mazagaon) 0; Campion School (Cooperage) (3) (Aryan Sood 2, Devansh Ghoshar) bt St Dominic Savio High School (Andheri) 0; Don Bosco (Matunga) 1 (Marc D’Souza) bt St Anne’s HS (Malad) 0.
> At St Xavier’s, Parel): B-U-16-II: Don Bosco (Borivali) 6 (Alex Aaron 2, Melburn Vaz 2, Wayne Trindade, Rionel D’Mello) bt The Cathedral & John Connon (Fort) 0; Arya Vidyamandir (Bandra E) 2 (Harshwardhan Achhpal 2) bt NSSA Hill Spring (Tardeo) 1 (Azaan Amiri); St Paul’s HS (Dadar) 1 (Tanmay Dhok) drew with Bombay International (Babulnath) 1 (Sidhant Shah); Hiranandani Foundation (Powai) 0 drew with St Theresa HS (Bandra) (0).
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