CNM's striker Saurabh Jha shines on inter-school debut

Saurabh Jha

Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial (CNM) School (Vile Parle) scored once in each half through Saurabh Jha and Aryan Rayani to blank Hiranandani School (Powai) 2-0 in a keenly contested boys' U-16 Div III league match of the MSSA inter-school football tournament at Azad Maidan yesterday.

CNM gained the early advantage when Saurabh timed his run perfectly from the left to meet Kishjit Joshi's pass from the right, and tapped home from close range in the seventh minute.

He then launched into a wild celebration, jumping with excitement and even did a couple of cartwheels. He later explained why. "I had never kicked a ball before and was playing my first football match for my school. So, when I scored, I was overjoyed," Saurabh told mid-day, adding that the cartwheels were possible thanks to his gymnastics and dance training classes at an academy in Vile Parle.

Other result:
(U-16 Div III): St Xavier's, Bhandup 1 (Ritesh Nishad) beat St Elias, Khar 0

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