After being embarrassed by relegation to Div-II last year, Juhu side battle hard to beat Thakur Public School 5-3 via shootout in semis and confirm return to top division
Jamnabai Narsee players celebrate their win over Thakur Public School in the MSSA Div-II semi-final on Thursday. Pics/Nimesh Dave
They say there can’t be joy without sorrow. This holds true for Jamnabai Narsee International School (Juhu), who suffered an embarrassing relegation to Division-II last year, but fought hard to ensure their return to Div-I next season by booking their place in the final with a 5-3 win over Thakur Public School (Kandivli) in the boys U-16 MSSA inter-school football semi-finals at Wings Sports Centre, Bandra, on Thursday.
Goalless stalemate
After neither side were able to score in regulation time, Jamnabai goalkeeper Aarav Shah’s decisive save in the first tie-breaker spot-kick from Thakur’s Aadi Tembulkar turned the tide in the Juhu school’s favour.
Aarav Shah
In the shootout, Jamnabai’s Aarush Arbatti, Kian Raimaliani, Ashaaz Khaan, Meir Kadakia, and Aayan Pancholi, all converted their attempts, while Thakur scored through Rishant Jain, Arsh Shetty, and Arnav Singh.
Recalling the hardships of the previous season and how they worked their way through it, Jamnabai Narsee coach Siddesh Birajdar said, “Many of the players were selected to play for the U-17 category last year. We didn’t have the best players, so we had to play with our ‘B’ team. Thereafter, I spoke to the school’s management and rebuilt the team. I told my players this season that they had to work harder and anyhow get back to Division-I, and they did.”
Jamnabi’s Aarav, 15, added: “I have been representing the school since the U-8 age-group and we have always been in Division-I in all age categories, but last year we conceded around 10 goals and got relegated. We were scolded by our coach due to that poor performance.”
Defender Kian recalled the day they were relegated as though it happened just yesterday. “I remember that [relegation] day. It was a horrible scene in the bus on the way home. There was yelling and arguments among ourselves, blaming each other for our mistakes. Eventually, we calmed down and made a promise to our coach to fight our way back to Division-I.”
Aditya Birla up next
In another semi-final at the same venue, Aditya Birla World Academy (Tardeo) beat St Lawrence High School (Borivli) by a narrow 1-0 margin. Sunoy Basu (37th minute) struck for Aditya Birla. Aditya Birla too have been promoted and will face Jamnabai Narsee in the final on August 22 at 10.45am.
Jamnabai’s road to the final
. Beat Hiranandani Foundation (Powai) 5-4 in pre-quarterfinal
. Beat St Anne’s (Malad) 2-0 in quarter-final
. Beat Thakur Public School (Kandivli) 5-3in semi-final
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