Queens Park Rangers probables Akash, Bhavesh shine for school

Akash & Bhavesh, who are among players shortlisted to train with the British club, shine in school's 2-0 win

Queens Park Rangers probables Akash, Bhavesh shine for school

Akash & Bhavesh, who are among players shortlisted to train with the British club, shine in school's 2-0 win

Queens Park Rangers (QPR) hopefuls Aakash Jadhav (14) and Bhavesh Dhanu (13) helped Colaba Municipal register a 2-0 win over Activity High School (Tardeo) in the U-16 inter-school football tournament at Bengal Club ground in Shivaji Park yesterday.

Colaba Municipal (blue) and Activity players during yesterday's U-16
match at Shivaji Park. Pics/Atul Kamble

Striker Aakash, son of a BMC sweeper, put the Colaba side ahead in the first half with a brilliant solo effort while Bhavesh completed the tally. Bhavesh, son of a fisherman, wants to be a footballer and not follow in his father Motiram's footsteps.u00a0 "After Rakesh Sakpal was selected for a six-week training programme at the QPR Football Academy in London (to be held in January), I am inspired to perform well so that I can also make the London trip," Aakash told MiD DAY.

Aakask Jadhav

Bhavesh is glad for the fact that he scored in a higher age-group match. "I wanted to prove that even being an U-14 player I can play with the older boys. I am looking forward to play more such matches in the higher age group as they help me improve fast."

Bhavesh Dhanu

Colaba Municipal coach Jagdeep Dhanu too is confident that at least one of his three wards Aakash, Bhavesh and Aniket Waydande will be selected for the London trip.

"I am confident that one of them will get to train at the Queens Park Rangers Youth Development Centre in London. Earlier they didn't have the exposure. But after having played in so many tournaments, they have the requisite talent and the skills to be selected," said Jagdeep.

The boys were selected from the Milind Deora South Mumbai Soccer Championship recently and are among 30 shortlisted children out of which few will be taken to QPR.