Don Bosco Matunga’s Under-16 Division I football team stands at the precipice of another crowning achievement as they take on Bombay Scottish (Mahim) in the finals of the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys U-16 Division I championship. Known as a formidable force in inter-school football, Don Bosco has built a reputation over two decades of excellence and consistent victory.
With an impressive track record, Don Bosco’s football squad has clinched the MSSA U-16 Division I titles multiple times – specifically in 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004. Their dominance is undeniable, and they have consistently shown an ability to rise to the occasion. In 2016 and 2009, they finished as runners-up, and but for the COVID-19 pandemic leading to the cancellation of the tournaments, they would possibly have secured titles in 2020 and 2021 as well.
This year’s team is captained by the young and dynamic Yohaan D’Souza. Last year and the year before, Yohaan Panjuani, supported ably by Ayush Kharat and Arya Kamble, led the team to victories. Recently, the team showcased their prowess by defeating their arch-rivals, St Stanislaus (Bandra), in the semi-finals.
The mastermind behind Don Bosco’s football legacy is Leslie Machado, the 69-year-old coach who has been nurturing young talents at the school for the past 35 years. “One of the main reasons for us doing well is the foundation we have laid over the years. Our supremacy is a collective effort—players, coaches, and support staff. The players train religiously even on their holidays. We nurture these kids right from the under-8 level. Now, other schools have also started to work early on the kids like us,” Machado shared in a recent interview with mid-day.
Machado emphasized the resilience and fighting spirit of his players as a key factor in their success. “These boys are fighters, they never give up. With the influx of academies in schools, even other teams are becoming stronger. Despite that, we are able to do well. I believe for a team to perform well, we need to have not just one or two star performers, but all 16 players should be good,” he explained.
Supporting Machado’s vision and commitment is Savio D’Souza, the school’s sports teacher for the past 27 years. D’Souza attributes their continuous success to dedication, talent, and a strong team ethos. “Our domination in inter-school football over the years is testament to dedication, talent, and strong team ethos. The impressive and consistent success can be attributed to a combination of excellent coaching, a disciplined training regime, and a culture that values teamwork and perseverance. Sir Leslie is known for his dedication to the school football team across more than three decades. His commitment extends beyond coaching; often spending extra hours mentoring players individually, encouraging them to excel both on and off the field,” D’Souza stated.
Fr. Crispino D’Souza, though now based in Pune since May 2023 and serving as the ex-principal and rector of Don Bosco High School and Don Bosco International School, reminisces about the sporting passion that continues to fuel the school’s success. He shared insights into the early days of nurturing sporting talent: “During the early 1990s when Fr Adolph Furtado returned from the USA, he started the sports division [A division]. It had 50-60 boys in a class, who were a part of various sporting disciplines.
. The sports boys had to pay a monthly fee [approximately R2,500] and in return got the best coaching. The school invested in the right coaches and trainers, and sports took off. A timetable was drawn and it had a huge impact, making them the No. 1 school in the city. This was followed from Class II till Class X. Fr Adolph’s successors Fr Edward D’Souza, Fr Bosco D’Mello, Fr Bernard Fernandes, and I built on that.”
Don Bosco prides itself not only on present athletic talents but also on its esteemed alumni, which includes cricket legends such as Farokh Engineer, Ravi Shastri, Jatin Paranjape, and Shreyas Iyer, as well as MM Somaya, India’s 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team member and former Chief Operating Officer of the Bosco Sports Academy.
Somaya highlighted the structural integrity that makes Don Bosco unique: “A robust structure of talent identification, coaching, and exposure across multiple sports has made a huge difference. With the vagaries of sport showing that the final goal difference is also about how the stars align on the day, Don Bosco’s well-equipped football stars will always be aiming for the sky.”
The school’s emphasis on a dual focus on sports and academics is echoed by former India cricketer Jatin Paranjape, who recalls his formative years at Don Bosco with fondness: “Don Bosco, Matunga, is a school that lays a lot of emphasis on sports in addition to education. The fantastic sports infrastructure was the biggest lever for me. I started playing hockey, but was quickly inducted into the cricket team. The most important learning for me was that I could do both, sports and studies, with the right time management. If I missed a few classes because of cricket tours, our then Sports Head, Mr. Patel, would take my situation on board but kept reiterating that I had to do well on the academic side too. Mr. Kumar Tamhane, who turned out to be my first coach, spent a lot of time working on my game. He was kind yet firm about punctuality and teamwork. That my two boys study here is a source of great joy for me.”
In the current team, players echo their gratitude towards their mentors. Skipper Yohaan D’Souza remarked, “The support we get from our coaches, especially Leslie [Machado] sir is just amazing. Also, our teachers are very helpful to students in the school’s football, cricket, hockey, basketball, and other sports teams. Leslie sir may be 69, but his fitness motivates us. He does all the drills with the same intensity as us.”
Top performer Adair D’Souza shared similar sentiments: “It is the love for the sport along with the discipline and passion that has been invested in each child from a very young age that has played a huge role in the team’s success. Our coach Leslie sir has shaped all of us and led us to do well in football. His contribution to our growth, both on and off the field, has been immense.”
As Don Bosco Matunga gears up for yet another potential victory in the MSSA U-16 finals, the combination of dedicated coaching, strong team spirit, and a rich legacy of sports excellence appears to once again steer them towards glory. With such a strong foundation, the team embodies the true essence of what it means to be Champions in the Making.
