It’s SPY v SPY for Mumbai Cricket Association president’s post!

Sandeep Patil and Amol Kale

Shivaji Park Youngsters (SPY) are a unique team. They reached the ‘A' division by being champions in consecutive years. However, for the last few years, SPY have been playing in Division ‘C' and await a title to get promoted. Since a lot of games were washed out, promotions and relegations may not be effected this year, but SPY will get something to cherish on Thursday.

It will come in the form of their former skipper Sandeep Patil or current representative Amol Kale. Both are up against each other for the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) president's post. SPY have always been known to promote young talent just as their name suggests. Apart from Patil, players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanjay Manjrekar, Chandrakant Pandit and Raju Kulkarni have represented the club in their younger days. Mumbai cricket followers remember Tendulkar last playing for the club in the 1990 edition of the Purshottam Shield after returning from his first tour of New Zealand.

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Patil, a Cricket Club of India regular, was available to play for SPY in that tournament and led them. He also smashed a whirlwind century against Sunder CC at the National CC pitch at Cross Maidan. Patil is contesting the MCA elections from the Mumbai Cricket group. His rival Kale, MCA's vice-president in Dr Vijay Patil's regime, has the backing of the Sharad Pawar-Ashish Shelar group. Whoever wins has something to thank SPY for.

SPY's winning journey started under founder Sharad Kotnis's guidance when the Mohan Salvi-led team won the division ‘G' title in 1964. They showcased the same spirit in the higher divisions in the next four years, emerging champions in the C, D, E, F between 1965 and 1968. But the club needed another five years to win the Division ‘B' title. The wait for the division ‘A' triumph was longer and though they survived and did well in the top division, it was only in 1992 that they got they hands on the pennant. Led by Suhas Mayekar, they clinched their maiden ‘A' division title in 1992 by topping the table with 15 points.

Mayekar, 54, who played for SPY from 1986 to 2000, recalled his team's 1992 journey: "Sandeep was the chief guest for the 1992 prize distribution function and mentioned my captaincy. It was a great feeling to receive the Kanga League championship pennant from a captain and cricketer of his status." The MCA will be led by a SPY man - Sandeep Patil or Amol Kale, but the outfit is well aware that if they want to return to their winning ways, only their on-field efforts will count.