Five teams in fray for the MSSA title race

Coaches upbeat as MSSA U-16 title race has as many as five teams still in the fray with just one round of matches remaining

Five teams in fray for the MSSA title race

Coaches upbeat asu00a0MSSA U-16 title race has as many as five teams still in the fray with just one round of matches remaining

In nearly two decades there hasn't been as close a contest for the Mumbai School Sports Association (MSSA) under-16 Div I title as the one this season. There are as many as five teams in the title race with each team having one match remaining. Yesterday's 0-0 draw against St Stanislaus ensured defending champions Don Bosco (Matunga) won't have it easy this year. They play their last match against Bombay Scottish (Mahim) on Wednesday. Bosco, Campion (Cooperage) and OLPS (Chembur) are all tied at 20 points from nine matches, while Bombay Scottish (Mahim) and St Stanislaus (Bandra) are at 19.

Rithvik Puhja of St Stanislaus (in green) and Mukul Khilnani of Don Bosco
(Matunga) engage in an aerial tussle for the ball during their MSSA U-16
Div 1 match at Azad Maidan yesterday. PIC/SHADAB KHAN

Campion coach Alex Wilfred Alva, whose team provided the tournament's biggest upset when they beat don Bosco 1-0 last week believes his boys can create history this time round. "In the 25 years of my playing and coaching career I have not seen such a close contest. But I feel Campion has a better chance to win as we are playing against a weaker side, St Dominic Savio," Alva told MiD DAY after a 1-1 draw against Bombay Scottish (Mahim).

Don Bosco coach Leslie Machado is surprised too. "I've seen two or even three teams fighting it out for the title in the end. But I think that for the first time in over two decades almost there are five teams in the fray for the championship," said Machado.

Stanislaus coach Roy Fernandes however is not being too ambitious. "Since we are a point behind Bosco and Campion, we may not be in contention for the title, but a second place is definitely on," he said.

On Wednesday, Don Bosco play Bombay Scottish, Campion take on St Dominic Savio, OLPS face St Francis D'Assisi and St Stanislaus battle it out against Cathedral and John Connon.u00a0

Results: B-16-I: Campion 1
(S Balodia) drew with Bombay Scottish 1 (P Shetty); St Francis D'Assisi (4) (Elton Quadros 3, Ryan D'Souza) bt St Joseph (Wadala) 0