Goalie Naithiks heroics guarantee GSMS in knockouts

Gopal Sharma Memorial School Powai needed to avoid a defeat of five goals or more to ensure their clean passage to the knockouts of the Mumbai Schools Sports Association MSSA Div IV inter-school football tournament

Gopal Sharma Memorial School Powai needed to avoid a defeat of five goals or more to ensure their clean passage to the knockouts of the Mumbai Schools Sports Association MSSA Div IV inter-school football tournament. However, they had to overcome a rampant St Peter’s Mazgaon side who were fresh from a 9-0 win against Shri Mammabai High School Kalachowki. With the odds stacked highly against the Powai outfit, chances of a positive result were dim.

Gopal Sharma Memorial School’s goalie Naithik Gohel scampers to get hold of the ball against St Peter’s School during the MSSA boys’ U-16 Div IV inter-school match at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

But GSMS proved naysayers wrong with ’keeper Naithik Gohel turning out to be the hero for his side. Despite injuring himself, Naithik put up a stunning display in goal in their final Pool ‘I’ match that ended 1-1 against the much-fancied St Peter’s at Azad Maidan yesterday.

No complacency
The Powai-based school couldn’t afford to be complacent. And they refused to show any signs of it in the opening exchanges as they grabbed the lead in the 10th minute through Aditya Singh, when his shot was deflected into the net.

However, from thereon, it was St Peter’s game.

They equallised in the 26th minute through skipper Princetine Mathias and created umpteen chances, but their attempts were either thwarted by sheer bad luck or brilliant goalkeeping by Naithik.

It was amazing the number of chances that went begging. Naithik made a host of exceptional saves.

Had it not been for him, GSMS would have found themselves packing.

Coach Deepak Kamble was running out of superlatives to describe Naithik’s performance.

“Naithik saved three certain goals in my opinion. He is short but makes up for that with quickness and has exceptional reflexes.

“I was confident we would qualify. But the way St Peter’s were attacking was really worrying,” Kamble told mid-day.

Immense pressure
Naithik too admitted his team were under great pressure, but at the same time he enjoyed soaking it up.

“It was very difficult for us. It is very hard to keep when the match is at 1-1 as there is a lot of pressure, but it was very enjoyable and I am happy I could help my team qualify,” Naithik added.

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