Srinagar: J&K Bank Academy has qualified for the Premier Division League after it finished at the top of points table in Super Division League. The Bank Academy team finished with 25 points in the Super Division League and by virtue of being the topper qualified for Premier Division next year.
In the latest match at Synthetic Turf TRC played on Thursday, JK Bank Academy thrashed Young Iqbal FC by six goals to one in a one sided encounter. The Bank team dominated the play right from start of the match and gave no chances to helpless defenders of the Young Iqbal FC. Ateeb opened the account for the Bank team in just 3rd minute of the play and Yasir Rafeeq double the lead just three minutes later.
In 26th minute of the play, Ozair of Young Iqbal scored a goal and reduced the defecit to 2-1. However, Ateeb scored his second and team’s third goal in 42nd minute of the match. The first half ended with Bank team leading 3-1.
The second half was no different as Bank players kept attacking the goal post of the Young Iqbal. In 51st minute of the play Sahil Banday made it 4-0 in favour of the Bank and just four minutes later Ateeb scored his third and team’s fifth goal. Yasir Rafiq score his second and team’s sixth goal. SFA Junior players tried their best to stop the Bank forwards, but they lacked the coordination and ultimately had to settle for 6-1 drubbing.
Ateeb has been a consistent performer for J&K Bank Academy this season and he had already scored two hat tricks in the competition. The overall performance of other players too has been exceptional for the Bank and riding on that they finished as the toppers in the Super Division League.
The State Football League-2017 is being organised by the J&K Football Association (JKFA) in all 22 districts of the state to unearth the hidden talent. More than 500 football teams and clubs with over 12000 players and over 1500 team officials are participating in the mega event, first of its kind in the history of J&K football.
While B-Division League of State Football League is already completed with IFC Nowgam winning the title, the A-Division League has reached to the final stage with Fort View FC and Novelty FC qualifying for final. Super and Premier Division leagues are nearing completition.
The premier division teams include J&K Bank XI, Forest XI, Police XI, Food and Supplies XI, Accountant General’s XI, Maharaja FC, Iqbal FC, I-League Lone Star KFC, I-League Real Kashmir FC, Power Development Corporation and State Football Academy are participating in the event.
The DFA Srinagar, DFA Anantnag, DFA Baramulla, Sopore Zone and Pattan Zone, DFA Budgam, DFA Kulgam, DFA Shopian, DFA Pulwama, DFA Ganderbal, DFA Zone Kupwara and Handwara, DFA Bandipora Zone, Hajin Zone, DFA Kargil and DFA Leh will send their teams for Kashmir province after the culmination of district leagues.
Similarly, DFA Jammu, DFA Kathua, DFA Samba, DFA Reasi, DFA Udhampur, DFA Rajouri, DFA Poonch, DFA Doda, DFA Ramban, DFA Kishtwar will send their respective teams from Jammu province.
The participating teams have strength of 20 players each with three officials. Besides Srinagar, the matches are being played in Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore, Bandipora, Pattan, Hajin, Handwara, Kupwara, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Ganderbal, Budgam, Leh and Kargil.
