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Kashmir Mughuls, ISAT FC, ISAT-A Lift Trophies
ABID KHAN
Srinagar, Jan 21: In the International Football Academy Trust (ISAT) winter special seven-A-side football tournament which concluded here at Polo ground today, Kashmir Mughals, ISAT Football Club and ISAT-A lifted the A-Division, B-Division and under-16 titles respectively at Polo Ground. Coincidentally, the outcome of all the matches was decided by tie-breaker.The day began with the under-16 final between ISAT-A and Young Football Club, Solina. The Young Football Club dominated the first half the match and were successful in scoring one goal. The sustained the lead till the end of the half time. In the second half, ISAT boys changed the gear and counterattacked their opponents ferociously but they missed several opportunities to score, however not before converting one into the equaliser. At the end of the match, the score was tied at 1-1. The outcome of the match was decided by tiebreaker in which ISAT defeated the Young Football Club 3-2 and lifted the U-16 title.In the second final of the B-Division between ISAT FC and Novelty, both teams played aggressively from the word go. Both teams scored a goal each in the allotted time and the outcome was decided by tiebreaker. In the tie-breaker, the ISAT FC converted four penalty strokes into goals while as Novelty scored only thrice. The ISAT FC lifted the B-division title, 5-4.The attraction of the day, however, was the crowd-puller final between Kashmir Mughals and Solina Greens in the A-division category. Both the finalists played attacking football from the word go with Solina Greens taking the lead by scoring first. Minutes later, Kashmir Mughals scored the equalizer--thanks to due to a mistake committed by Solina keeper. At the end of half time, the score was tied at 1-1.In the second half, Kashmir Mughals dominated the game and thwarted each move Solina players made and kept the ball under their feet all the time. Neither of the teams could score a goal in the allotted time.The outcome of the match was decided by tiebreaker in which five penalties were awarded to both the teams. Kashmir Mughals converted two penalty strokes into goals while as Solina Greens could convert only one thus losing the match 3-2. As soon as the last kick was taken, the whole team burst into jubilation and were joined by hundreds of spectators.The deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Mehrajudin Kakroo, who was the chief guest on the occasion, distributed prizes among the winners.Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I am really delighted to see football being played in winter in the valley. It is for the first time such an initiative has been taken and the credit goes to Brazilian Coach Marcos.”He said Marcos gave Kashmir football a new lease of life by keeping it alive in the winter. “I can say Marcos has given a new life to football in the valley and he has showed how to keep the game alive in winters.”He said that the climate conditions were adverse for playing football in the valley. “It is essential to keep sports activities going on all the time to achieve higher standards at national and International level,” he said.He said his administration was committed to promote sports in the valley.He stressed the need to strengthen the sports at grass root level: “In order to make a mark at the national and international level, we need to catch players young.”Former footballers and fans praised Marcos for his efforts. Muhammad Ismail Chapri who has been associated with football for the last 60 years, termed the tournament as a milestone in the history of football in valley. “It is a new beginning for which the entire credit goes to Marcos,” he said. “He has shown us a way forward to keep the game going on all throughout the year.”Similar views were expressed by another former player and senior member JKFA, Mushtaq Ahmad Kanth.One of the spectators, Irshad Ahmad of Dalgate said that he had been watching football from his childhood but never saw any tournament being organized in winter.Delighted over the heartening response the tournament received, Marcos said he had never thought the tournament would be a great crowd-puller. “Over 40 teams participated in more than 100 matches,” he said. “The level of competition in each game was high.”He said the future of football in Kashmir was bright.He thanked the J&K Football Association and grounds manager of the Sports Council for their support in organizing the event.
Srinagar, Jan 21: In the International Football Academy Trust (ISAT) winter special seven-A-side football tournament which concluded here at Polo ground today, Kashmir Mughals, ISAT Football Club and ISAT-A lifted the A-Division, B-Division and under-16 titles respectively at Polo Ground. Coincidentally, the outcome of all the matches was decided by tie-breaker.The day began with the under-16 final between ISAT-A and Young Football Club, Solina. The Young Football Club dominated the first half the match and were successful in scoring one goal. The sustained the lead till the end of the half time. In the second half, ISAT boys changed the gear and counterattacked their opponents ferociously but they missed several opportunities to score, however not before converting one into the equaliser. At the end of the match, the score was tied at 1-1. The outcome of the match was decided by tiebreaker in which ISAT defeated the Young Football Club 3-2 and lifted the U-16 title.In the second final of the B-Division between ISAT FC and Novelty, both teams played aggressively from the word go. Both teams scored a goal each in the allotted time and the outcome was decided by tiebreaker. In the tie-breaker, the ISAT FC converted four penalty strokes into goals while as Novelty scored only thrice. The ISAT FC lifted the B-division title, 5-4.The attraction of the day, however, was the crowd-puller final between Kashmir Mughals and Solina Greens in the A-division category. Both the finalists played attacking football from the word go with Solina Greens taking the lead by scoring first. Minutes later, Kashmir Mughals scored the equalizer--thanks to due to a mistake committed by Solina keeper. At the end of half time, the score was tied at 1-1.In the second half, Kashmir Mughals dominated the game and thwarted each move Solina players made and kept the ball under their feet all the time. Neither of the teams could score a goal in the allotted time.The outcome of the match was decided by tiebreaker in which five penalties were awarded to both the teams. Kashmir Mughals converted two penalty strokes into goals while as Solina Greens could convert only one thus losing the match 3-2. As soon as the last kick was taken, the whole team burst into jubilation and were joined by hundreds of spectators.The deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Mehrajudin Kakroo, who was the chief guest on the occasion, distributed prizes among the winners.Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I am really delighted to see football being played in winter in the valley. It is for the first time such an initiative has been taken and the credit goes to Brazilian Coach Marcos.”He said Marcos gave Kashmir football a new lease of life by keeping it alive in the winter. “I can say Marcos has given a new life to football in the valley and he has showed how to keep the game alive in winters.”He said that the climate conditions were adverse for playing football in the valley. “It is essential to keep sports activities going on all the time to achieve higher standards at national and International level,” he said.He said his administration was committed to promote sports in the valley.He stressed the need to strengthen the sports at grass root level: “In order to make a mark at the national and international level, we need to catch players young.”Former footballers and fans praised Marcos for his efforts. Muhammad Ismail Chapri who has been associated with football for the last 60 years, termed the tournament as a milestone in the history of football in valley. “It is a new beginning for which the entire credit goes to Marcos,” he said. “He has shown us a way forward to keep the game going on all throughout the year.”Similar views were expressed by another former player and senior member JKFA, Mushtaq Ahmad Kanth.One of the spectators, Irshad Ahmad of Dalgate said that he had been watching football from his childhood but never saw any tournament being organized in winter.Delighted over the heartening response the tournament received, Marcos said he had never thought the tournament would be a great crowd-puller. “Over 40 teams participated in more than 100 matches,” he said. “The level of competition in each game was high.”He said the future of football in Kashmir was bright.He thanked the J&K Football Association and grounds manager of the Sports Council for their support in organizing the event.
published in greater kashmir on january 22-2009 link: http://greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?Date=22_1_2009&ItemID=2&cat=4
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