Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Bank Team thrashed State Football Academy (SFA) XI by five goals to nil 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 Thursday (March 29).
In a one sided encounter, the Bank players dominated the match from start till end and SFA players were no match to their quality play. The Bank team gave no chance of recovery to the opposite team. Prem Kumar opened the account for the winning team in 17th minute of the play while Jamsheed doubled the lead in 35th minute. The first half ended with Bank team leading 2-0
In the second half, the Bank forwards continued to attack the goalpost of SFA and kept their defence lines under pressure. In 46th minute of the play, Danish made it 3-0 in favour of the Bank and just five minutes later Danish scored his second and team’s fourth goal. In 69th minute of the play, Prem Kumar scored his second and team’s fifth goal and sealed the fate of the match. The SFA players tried their best to score, but failed to do so. Danish was declared as player of the match for his brilliant play. He was awarded cash prize of Rs 1000 and a memento.
Meanwhile, the event started in Samba district and in the opening match, Mandi Sangwari FC defeated Kartar Memorial FC by three goals to one. In Kishtwar, the first phase of the event has ended with Buna Aastan winning the final. In the first semifianl Buna Aastan FC thrashed Wilson FC by five goals to nil in a one sided affair. In the second semi-final, Kishtwar Strikers defeated Matta FC by a solitary goal.
In the final match Buna Aastan defeated Kishtwar Strikers by 3-2 in a tie-breaker. In the closely contested match, no team was able to score in the allotted time and the match had to be decided in a tie-breaker. Commandant 52 BN CRPF PK Choudhary was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
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.
The aim of the tournament is to unearth the hidden talent in all corners of the state including remote areas.