Featuring inter-school football giants Don Bosco, Matunga, in the first of our Nursery of Champions series; outfit primed for MSSA U-16 Division I glory this year.
The Don Bosco (Matunga) under-16 Division I football squad has been a living testament to consistent brilliance in inter-school football. As they gear up for the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys U-16 Division I final against Bombay Scottish (Mahim), all eyes are on them to add another title to their extensive list of accolades. In the last two decades, their dominance is clear, having secured the titles in 2023, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, and 2004.
This remarkable record speaks volumes about their dominance on the field. However, their impressive run was momentarily disrupted, as they finished runners-up in 2016 and 2009, and had close calls in 2020 and 2021, years affected by the cancellation of tournaments due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These setbacks, however, have not dimmed their spirit or halted their winning streak.
Leading the charge this year is Yohaan D’Souza, carrying forward the legacy left by Yohaan Panjuani, the victorious skipper in both 2023 and 2022, and supported ably by Ayush Kharat and Arya Kamble in respective years. Just last week, the Bosco boys showcased their athletic prowess by defeating their arch-rivals St Stanislaus (Bandra) in the semi-finals.
Central to Don Bosco’s football success is their experienced coach Leslie Machado, who, at 69, has been the school’s football mentor for an impressive 35 years. Machado attributes their consistent success to the solid foundation laid over the years. Speaking to mid-day, he emphasized, “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’s belief in holistic player development is evident in how he prepares his boys to face sporting adversities. He mentioned, “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.”
Savio D’Souza, the school’s sports teacher for the past 27 years, echoes Machado’s sentiments, highlighting commitment as a key reason for their sustained success. “Our domination in inter-school football over the years is a 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 explained.
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The roots of this sporting culture can be traced back to Fr Crispino D’Souza, the ex-principal and rector of Don Bosco High School and Don Bosco International School, currently based in Pune. Fr Crispino credits the early 1990s initiative of Fr Adolph Furtado for laying the groundwork. Fr Adolph introduced the sports division [A division] that included rigorous training and a structured timeline involving the best coaches and trainers, making Don Bosco rise to the top as the No. 1 school in the city.
Their legacy is not just confined to current students. The school takes pride in its alumni, which includes notable figures such as India cricketers Farokh Engineer, Ravi Shastri, Jatin Paranjape, and Shreyas Iyer. India’s 1980 Moscow Olympics gold medal-winning hockey team member MM Somaya, who was the Chief Operating Officer of the Bosco Sports Academy until recently, highlights the robust structure of talent identification, coaching, and exposure across multiple sports that makes Don Bosco a unique sporting institution. “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,” Somaya elaborated.
Jatin Paranjape, a former India cricketer, also praised the school’s balance between sports and education. “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,” he fondly recalled.
Yohaan D’Souza, the current team captain, praised the support system within the school. “The support we get from our coaches, especially Leslie 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,” he remarked.
Adair D’Souza, a top performer in the team, acknowledged the impact of early training and discipline. “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,” Adair stated.
In conclusion, winning has become a habit for Don Bosco (Matunga), and with their rich legacy and strong support system, they look set to continue their dominance in inter-school football for years to come.
