18 August,2016 07:58 AM IST | | Narendra Sastry
Champions from 2009 to 2013, Don Bosco (Matunga) are hot favourites as they face a resurgent St Stanislaus (Bandra) in the final of MSSA Div I U-16 inter-school football tourney today
The Don Bosco team celebrate after scoring a goal against St Lawrence (Kandivli) in MSSA boys U-16 inter-school football tournament at Azad Maidan recently. Pic/Atul Kamble
The stage is set for a perfect battle as hot favourites Don Bosco (Matunga) take on arch-rivals St Stanislaus (Bandra) in the final of the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) Div I U-16 inter-school football tournament at Cooperage ground today.
The Don Bosco team celebrate after scoring a goal against St Lawrence (Kandivli) in MSSA boys U-16 inter-school football tournament at Azad Maidan recently. Pic/Atul Kamble
Both schools have had a long-standing rivalry between them in hockey, albeit in football Bosco have ruled the roost, when they were crowned champions for five consecutive years from 2009-13. Stanislaus had gone off the boil recently. They got eliminated in the group stages last yea and 2014 as well, but have somehow managed to turn things around this year to finish above Bosco in Pool 'B'.
Bosco coach Leslie Machado feels the finales against Stanislaus could be labelled like an India-Pakistan cricket match. "We used to meet each other in the finals frequently 10-12 years back. It used to be really competitive. However, the players were all friends outside the pitch," Machado told mid-day
yesterday.
Captain of Bosco Rajin Mehta is well aware of the heated rivalry. "It is a game which we want to win. We would like to attack them. Counter-attacks will be crucial for us," Mehta pointed out.
Skipper eyes glory
Stanislaus skipper Marven Pereira, who also plays hockey, recently lost the Olympic day MSSA U-16 hockey final against Bosco in the tie-breaker. Marven wants the win to avenge the defeat, but at the same time intends to enjoy the final more than anything else. "I was part of the hockey team which played a final against Don Bosco recently, but we lost. I would like to win tomorrow, but more importantly I want to enjoy the occasion and play a clean final," Pereira said.
Stanislaus coach Oscar Alva is expecting a tough encounter but is confident of his team, having already played Bosco in the group stages. The Bandra outfit outclassed defending champions Campion (Cooperage) 2-0 to reach the summit clash. "We expect a really tough match against Bosco. They are a really good side but playing them already has given me an insight as to how they play. We also watched their semi-final match so we know what to expect," Alva added.
Bosco defeated Jamnabai Narsee (Juhu) 2-0 to reach the finals. "It is going to be evenly poised. They are a really good side. We drew against them earlier in the tournament, but we can win it this time around," Machado said.
