Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Police played a goalless draw with J&K Bank Academy in a match of the ongoing third phase of the first Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (MMS) Memorial Football Tournament played at Synthetic Turf Football Stadium in Srinagar on Tuesday (March 27).
Right from the start of the match, forward lines of both the teams tried to breach each others’ defences. But on all the occasions, they failed at the finish line. Both the teams missed several scoring opportunities. The match was expected to be a high voltage encounter between the two evenly matched teams. However, it couldn’t live up to the expectations.
The defenders were always under pressure but they ensured that no damage was done. The goalkeepers made some brilliant saves and at the end of the first half the score line read 0-0. In the second half, it seemed both the teams were content to play a draw as they were more interested in saving the goals rather than scoring.
In the last minutes of the match, though both the teams made some moves, but they failed at the finish line. When the referee blew the final whistle, the score line read 0-0. Considering the quality of play displayed by both the teams, it was a fair result. Amir Nisar was declared as player of the match for his performance. He was awarded Rs 1000 and a memento by the organisers.
While in Kashmir region, first and second phase matches of the event, being organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) under the auspices of State Sports Council and on the directions of All India Football Federation (AIFF), have been completed, in Jammu region first phase matches are going on. So far more than 1500 matches have been played in the event across the state while 6700 matches are expected to be held at different venues in J&K in coming days.
The aim of the tournament is to unearth the hidden talent in all corners of the state including remote areas. In Srinagar district 104 clubs/teams participated in the first phase of the event and 280 matches of premier division, super division, A, B and sub junior categories were held between August and December 2017.
Similarly, 107 matches were played in Baramulla, 99 in Sopore , 78 in Pattan, 54 in Kupwara, 66 in Handwara, 55 in Bandipora, 51 in Hajin 51, 77 in Budgam, 102 in Ganderbal, 27 in Pulwama, 59 in Pampore, 54 in Anantnag , 32 in Shopian 32 and 35 matched in Kulgam were played. And, 896 matches were played in districts/zones in the first phase of the event while 69 matches were played in inter-district category. The JKFA is holding 196 further matches of youth league in all 10 districts of the Valley.
