20 July,2016 07:53 AM IST | | Sundari Iyer
Having finished runners-up in MSSA boys' U-16 Division I last season, the Matunga outfit will aim for a title as the inter-school football season gets underway at Azad Maidan tomorrow
Don Bosco players sweat it out during a practice session at their school ground in Matunga over the weekend. Pic/Sameer Markande
After winning the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-16 Division I title for six consecutive years (2008 to 2013), last year's runners-up Don Bosco 'A' (Matunga) will look to get back to their winning ways when they take on Don Bosco High School (Borivli) on Friday as the inter-school football season kicks off at Azad Maidan tomorrow.
Don Bosco didn't have a great 2015, as the Matunga outfit was knocked out in the quarter-finals of the MSSA Ahmed Sailor knockout tournament. Don Bosco's Atharva Ghatkar, who was part of last year's team, said they have a balanced side this year and are confident to bounce back.
Don Bosco players sweat it out during a practice session at their school ground in Matunga over the weekend. Pic/Sameer Markande
Good bench strength
"Our team has a mix of last year's players and some who have come from the U-14 team. Last season we came close to winning and lost to 3-4 via tie-breaker to Campion in the final. This year, our defence, forward and even the bench strength is good and we are confident that we will win all the titles," said Atharva. Meanwhile, Don Bosco coach Leslie Machado said that though they have a good side, they will have to treat each game as a final if they aim to win the league and knockout title again.
"We will miss key players like Clivert Miller, Ethan D'Cruz, Flinn D'Cruz, Shreyas Sail, Fabian Anthony and Elric Daurate from last year's team," Machado, who has been associated with the school's football team for over two decades, told mid-day. Machado added that in addition to last year's players like striker Atharva Ghatkar, defender Atharva Jagtap, defender Shelton Fernandes, striker Aryan Hukumchand and Rajan Mehta, some talented U-14 players have given the team the much-needed bench strength.
"Pratham Naik who makes debut this year is a boy to watch out for. There are some very good U-14 players like Aman Mangi, Joshua D'Souza, Lance Fernandes, Dwayne Pereira, Moiz Shaikh, Moiz Qureshi and Manan Dang who join the U-16 team from U-14 side," he said. The team has been practicing for the upcoming season from May itself and the coach hopes that their hard work pays off and the boys score. However, Machado said that not a single team in Group B is an easy one to beat. "Our group has all the tough schools. If we want to win the title this year, we cannot afford to take any team in our group lightly," said Machado.
