MSSA U-16 Div IV: SVIS beat Cambridge 3-1, now eye promotion

Swami Vivekanand International School (Borivli), who were initially in Div II were unable to send a team in 2014. According to Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) rules, they found themselves demoted to Div IV and are currently languishing in the same league for the past two seasons.

Action from the MSSA boys' U-16 Div IV match between Swami Vivekanand International School (Borivli) and Bombay Cambridge School (Andheri) at Azad Maidan yesterday. PIC/SURESH KARKERA

Coach Vasant Andhan is eager to rebuild the side and wants to get them going once again. Yesterday's 3-1 win against Bombay Cambridge School (Andheri) in MSSA U-16 Div IV Pool ‘A' inter-school match was a step in the right direction. Swami Vivekanad won the match with ease.

Pratham Suvarna scored twice and Dherya Parekh added one to his name. Bombay Cambridge's Agwan Ayan pulled one back.

This was their second win having got a walkover in the first game. Andhan's team made it to the quarter-finals last year but did not get promoted as only four teams made the cut. This time around there are eight slots available, meaning a performance like last year can elevate them to Div III.

But the coach does not believe it is a surety. "The team is good. They can get promoted but it is not easy as there are 120 teams and a bad performance can send us packing," he told mid-day.

"It would take two to three years to get back to where we were. We have to introduce U-10 and U-12 teams to ensure a supply of players to the U-16 team," he pointed out.