Indian Airlines want to give coach a fitting farewell

Indian Airlines School (Santacruz) want to win the MSSA under-16 Div IV title as a farewell gift for their physical trainer Samuel John, who will retire at the end of this year

Indian Airlines want to give coach a fitting farewell

Indian Airlines School (Santacruz) want to win the MSSA under-16 Div IV title as a farewell gift for their physical trainer Samuel John, who will retire at the end of this year

Indian Airlines School (Santacruz) beat Gokuldham High School (Goregaon) 4-3 via tie-breaker in the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) U-16 Div IV tie at Azad Maidan yesterday.u00a0The win was special as it ensured the Santacruz lads will have the chance of giving their physical training teacher Samuel John, an apt farewell gift.

Indian Airlines' (Santacruz) goalkeeper Shardul More effects a save
during the tie-breaker of an U-16 Div IV inter-school match against
Gokuldham at Azad Maidan yesterday. More made three saves as IA
won 4-3. Pic/Atul Kamble

The Airlines boys want to win the title for John, who retires at the end of this year.u00a0IA goalkeeper Shardul More, who effected three saves in the tie-breaker said: "Samuel sir has always supported us. We do not have a football coach, but he always makes sure that we get to play in the MSSA tournament every year. We want to win this title as a farewell gift for him."

John, who has been serving the school for the last two decades, appreciated the gesture. "The team's performance went down in 2008-09 and they were relegated to Div IV. I am hoping that this time they can win and earn a promotion. These boys practise in whatever little space they get in the Indian Airlines colony ," he said.

The match ended 1-1 at regulation time with Shah Shoaib Zahir and Paras Kalura scoring for IAu00a0 and Gokuldham respectively .

In the tie-breaker, Ivan Fernandes, Shiadual Wasta and Vinit Shirke were on target for IA while only Yash Katakwar and Rishab Dey managed to find the net for Gokuldham.