MSSA: A lowdown on defending champions and runners-up

Don Bosco 'A' players during a training session in Matunga yesterday. Pics/Suresh Karkera

Defending champions Don Bosco 'A' (Matunga), who won both, the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys U-16 Div-I League as well as the Ahmed Sailor knockout tournaments last year, are ready to defend their crown as they take on St Mary's ICSE 'A' in their opening match at Azad Maidan, while U-16 Division 1 runners-up Campion 'A' face former champions (2014) St Lawrence (Kandivli) at Azad Maidan tomorrow.

Vansh Kale, who was part of the Bosco boys' 3-0 final triumph against Campion last year, said the team began practising early. "We started practicing for this season in May. Our team co-ordination is pretty good," said Kale.

Campion's goalkeeper is tested by his teammates during a training session in Colaba yesterday

Bosco's balanced
When asked to name few teams who he felt could pose a threat to Don Bosco, Kale said: "Campion and St Mary's SSC [Mazagaon] are the teams who tend to play well against us, but I'm confident we can do well against any opposition." Don Bosco coach Leslie Machado said that though his team is good, one can never underestimate any opposition.

"The FIFA World Cup is the best example to suggest that one great player, be it Lionel Messi, or Cristiano Ronaldo, cannot carry an entire team forward. Team work is the key and we have some good team players in defender Kris Benson, forward Krishna Karkera, midfielder Samar Kalatkar and defenders Ansh Tauro, Krish Benson and Vansh," said Machado. Meanwhile, 2015 champions, Campion are a confident bunch too. "We began practicing in the last week of May but took a break before coming together again in the middle of June. We have a good team and are surely among the contenders for the title," said Campion skipper Bergis Batliwala after a practice session at their school ground.

Campion coach Wilfred Alva

Campion confident
Campion coach Wilfred Alva said the groups are fairly balanced this season. "In the past, there have been times when one group was easy and the other had tough teams, but this year it's not so. Though some of our boys have moved to International board schools, we still have quite a few key players in Bergis, midfielder Aman Hossein, goalkeeper Zane Antia and striker Vivaan Roshan, among others," said Alva.

U-16 Div I groups
Group A: St Stanislaus 'A' (Bandra), Cathedral and John Connon (Fort), St Mary's SSC (Mazagaon), Smt RSB Arya Vidyamandir (Juhu) Group B: Don Bosco 'A' (Matunga), St Mary's ICSE 'A' (Mazagaon), St Joseph (Wadala), Jamnabai Narsee 'A' (Juhu) Group C: Campion 'A' (Cooperage), St Lawrence (Kandivli), Christ Church (Byculla), Bombay Scottish 'A' (Mahim) Group D: St Francis D'Assisi 'A' (Borivli), Don Bosco 'A' (Borivli), St Dominic Savio (Andheri), St Pius X (Mulund)

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