In an exhilarating showdown at Azad Maidan, the young footballers of St Aloysius High School, Gorai, emerged victorious against CNM High School, Vile Parle, clinching the MSSA boys U-12 Division-III inter-school football title in a closely contested match that concluded with a nerve-racking 5-3 tie-breaker victory. The spotlight shone brightly on the heroic efforts of goalkeeper Godric Manaji, whose masterful saves in both regulation time and the decisive shootout were pivotal to St Aloysius’s maiden title triumph.
The match began with an electrifying start as CNM High School’s Vansh Sankhla found the back of the net in just the second minute, dazzling the crowd with a pinpoint shot into the top left corner of the goal. The early lead injected confidence into CNM, but that boost was short-lived. St Aloysius’s Saran Gaiba skillfully brought the score level in the 10th minute, launching a precise lob over CNM’s goalkeeper, Parv Mehta, and restoring parity at 1-1. This early exchange of goals set the stage for an intense showdown.
During the second half, CNM High School pressed forward with renewed vigor and orchestrated several promising goal-scoring opportunities. However, their efforts were thwarted time and again by St Aloysius’s vigilant goalkeeper Godric Manaji, whose phenomenal saves in the 36th and 38th minutes ensured the match ended in a deadlock at the final whistle, necessitating a tie-breaker to decide the champion.
In the high-stakes penalty shootout, it was Godric Manaji who emerged as the star performer. By denying CNM’s Vihaan Shroff a crucial spot-kick, Godric provided his team with the crucial advantage they needed. CNM managed to convert only two penalties through Vansh Sankhla and Pashan Golimar, while St Aloysius capitalized on their opportunities with Jake Kinny, Bariyon Caskar, Saran Gaiba, and Zaniel Zolar all finding the net. With a successful penalty shooting display, St Aloysius secured a 5-3 victory in the tie-breaker and with it, their first-ever MSSA football title.
Reflecting on the thrilling win and its significance, St Aloysius’s coach, Sundar BT, expressed elation and pride in his team’s achievement.
. “This is our first-ever football title, so we are all very proud. I hope this can encourage more children from our school to excel in sports,” he remarked with enthusiasm. The victory was also a testament to the team’s growth, having been knocked out in the pre-quarterfinals in their first appearance last year.
In other noteworthy action at Azad Maidan, the battle for third place saw Dr Antonio D’Silva High School, Dadar, edge out St Francis ICSE, Borivli, with a 6-4 win in another tie-breaker. The match witnessed a flurry of goals as Advay Nambudiri and Davin Pereria gave St Francis a 2-0 lead in the first half. St Francis held their lead until the second half, when Aarush Samant and Tanmay Shinde scored in quick succession to level the scores at 2-2, pushing the match into penalties. In the tie-breaker, Antonio D’Silva converted four out of five attempts, while St Francis converted two, securing third place for Antonio D’Silva.
The success of these young athletes has borne additional fruits beyond the trophy. St Aloysius, CNM High School, and Dr Antonio D’Silva High School have all earned promotion to Division-II for the next season, ensuring tougher competition and greater challenges ahead. The promotions mark a promising stride in the schools’ sporting journeys, encouraging an enhanced focus on nurturing young talent in football and other sports.
As the spectators left Azad Maidan, the echoes of cheers for Godric Manaji’s spectacular goalkeeping and St Aloysius’s victory were a testament to the dedication, skill, and sportsmanship displayed by the young players. The tournament concluded as a reminder of the unifying power of sports and its ability to inspire ambition and pride among participants and supporters alike.
