St Mary's (Kalina) 1-0 win over Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Chembur) in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-16 Div II inter-school football tournament was far from a fluent affair
Action from the MSSA boys' Div 2 U-16 inter-school football tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
St Mary's (Kalina) 1-0 win over Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (Chembur) in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-16 Div II inter-school football tournament was far from a fluent affair.
Action from the MSSA boys' Div 2 U-16 inter-school football tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera
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The MSSA ground at Azad Maidan, where the match was played, is severely affected by the recent heavy rains that have lashed the city and huge puddles spread across the length and breadth of the ground make play extremely difficult.
Both coaches lashed out at the school sports' body for making the kids play on such a poor surface. "We are a team that thrives on free flowing football. These conditions do not just hamper our movement, I am worried my players could get injured too," said Our Lady of Perpetual Succour coach Phil D'Cruz.
'Can't spot talent'
Despite the win, St Mary's coach Walter D'Souza said was not a happy man. "You cannot spot or nurture future talent on such grounds. This is the grassroot level — U-12, U-14 and U-16 and talent will go unnoticed," he said.
Consistent attempts to contact MSSA football secretary Sebastian Fernandes, proved futile as his cell phone was switched off.
The Kalina outfit ended up being lucky though they were pegged back for most of the game before they won the match 1-0.
Amaan Mohammed Khan scored the all-important winner in the 48th minute after receiving a neat pass from captain Ivan Fernandes.
D'Souza is now hoping his team can earn a promotion to Division I. "We are happy to win as we had drawn our first game.We got an opportunity and seized it and that makes me happy. We will take it game by game and in the end hopefully we will get promoted," said D'Souza.
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