Pune: Premier India Football Academy (PIFA) Colaba FC registered a solitary goal win over Prayag United SC 1-0 and lift the 7th Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Cup, at the Bharati Vidyapeeth Educational Complex Ground, here on Sunday.
The victory for the Mumbai side meant bettering their record in the tournament. Earlier, PIFA had finished runners-up in the state-level Abhijit Kadam Memorial Football Shield, which entitled them to play in the all-India tournament and eventually end on a high.
A first-half goal from striker Nagesh Swamy (39th minute) was enough to separate the two sides at the end of regulation time.
The proceedings began with both sides locking themselves in a midfield battle. Both teams preferred a slow build up game rather than the long ball tactics used earlier.
PIFA had the first chance of the match when Clifford Garrett’s managed to send his free-kick straight into the Prayag ‘keeper Raju Chakraborty.
Prayag managed to up their game and had skipper Sukumar Roy shoot wide from the right. This was the closest Prayag United came in the first half.
PIFA took the lead in 39th minute through striker Nagesh Swamy. Sushil Kawade sent in a cross from the left to Jackie Singh who managed to head the ball to a fast approaching Nagesh at the far post who slotted the ball home.
The first half ended with PIFA leading by a solitary goal.
Switching ends, Prayag started pushing forward in the search of an equalizer. They had a great chance when Anjan Dey sent Sukumar in the clear but PIFA ‘keeper Kishan Sulegai dived in time to block.
In the 66th minute, Prayag almost got the equaliser when Arjun Chatterjee’s screamer from the right hit the crossbar.
PIFA finally came out from their shell and started pushing forward. They came close when striker George Wamou’s shot was brilliantly punched away by rival ‘keeper.
The Mumbai side managed to hold on to their slender advantage in the final moments of the game surviving an injury time onslaught from Prayag United who put their best foot forward but fell short.
PIFA pocketed Rs Winners Rs 3.0 lakh for their effort, while runners-up Prayag United SC had to be content with Rs 2 lakh.
The winners and runners up received their spoils from Mr. Patangrao Kadam, Founder & Chancellor, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University and Minister of Forest, Rehabilitation & Help, Maharashtra State.
The Best Player award was handed over by Mr. Vishwajeet Kadam and Secretary, Bharati Vidyapeeth and Managing Trustee Abhijit Kadam Memorial Foundation, while the Best Goalkeeper award had Mr. SF Patil, Ex- Vice Chancellor Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University give away the prize.
Both individual winners was handed a cash award of Rs 15,000 respectively.
TEAMS
PIFA Colaba: Kishan Sulegai, Clifford Garrett, Vincent Bassey, Vinay Jadhav, Dheeraj Meher, Hantoba Singh, Jackie Singh, Sushil Kawde, George Wamou, Nagesh Swamy, Dashanng Kachru, Godpower Canopy, Gautam Kanojia, Mohsin Khan, Jeevan Nalge, Ravindra Tamatar, Ganesh kamat, Subhash Mondal
Prayag United SC: Raju Chakraborty, Bapi Saha, Subash Oraw, Bijoy Chakraborty,Annanda Paul, Jogannath Oraw, F Liandala Sena, Ranjan Mistry, Arjun Chatterjee, Sukumar Roy, Anjan Dey. Chiranjit Kundu, Goursankar Dutta, Bidhan Bala, Soumik Chakraborty, Bivash Sarkar, Nobabrata Ghosh, Amar Sardar.
Man of the Match: Nagesh Swamy (PIFA)
OTHER AWARDS
Best Player: Vincent Bassey (PIFA Colaba)
Best Goalkeeper: Raju Chakraborty (Prayag United SC)
