Arpora-based Super30 Soccer Schools bagged a treble at the recent All-India Football Championship at Chiplun-Maharashtra, winning the U-12, U-16 and U-18 categories.
The tournament, organised by Young Lines Football Academy and Shivratna Academy, saw over 40 teams of various clubs and academies across India participating in age categories.
A 75-member team of Super30 Soccer Schools comprising 7 coaches and 55 players travelled to Ratnagiri for the tournament that was held from November 24-28. The academy had formed three squads – Super 30, Candolim panchayat and Super Goans FC – for the event.
The Super30 U-12 team were playing an 11-a-side official tournament for the first time. The boys were motivated and eager to prove what they have learnt and to showcase their talents on the football field during this tournament.
In the U-12 category, the organisers introduced a league system, where the Super30 team had to play three matches, with the team at the first spot winning the trophy.
Super30 U-12 boys played their first match against FC Vigour, whom they defeated by a 2-0 margin. Brandon and David were the players to score a goal each for the team. The team played their second match against Goan Champs, where Super30 dominated the match with their direct approach, and scored a convincing 3-0 victory. Brandon made it to the scoresheet twice to make it 2-0, while Delson who came on as a super-sub, extended the lead.
In the third and final match, Super30 were against Pune, which was a must-win match for Super30. The players played with determination and desire, winning the match by 1-0. The lone goal was scored by Brandon.
Goalkeeper Xavier did not concede any goal during the entire tournament. Coach Dylan’s and Coach Jesusly’s tactics played out exactly as planned. The support from the parents and supporters of the players was strong throughout the tournament. Brandon Fernandes was the top-scorer of the U-12 age group with 4 goals.
In the U-16 category, Super30 started on a slow note by drawing the first match with FLA Mumbai. They came in later strongly, winning all the group stage matches to take them to the semi-finals. In the semi-finals, they emerged victorious by a 3-0 margin against Pune. In the U-16 finals, they won courtesy of an all-important goal scored by Soham Nagvekar. The U-16 team was coached by Tony Okafor.
In the U-18 category, Super30 started off with a win and drew the group phase matches to qualify for the semi-finals where they took on Nashik United in the semis and won by a solitary goal.
The final was an intense battle where the coaches threw in all the tricks from their bag. But at the end, the U-18 coach Ricardo changed the tactics and managed to get the solitary winning goal by Soham Nagvekar after the break. Ashley Fernandes was declared the emerging player of the tournament.
“Super30 Soccer Schools won in three categories, an achievement which has never happened in the past three editions of the All-India Football Championship,” said Founder of Super30 Soccer Schools, Ricardo Cardozo. He thanked the Village Panchayat of Candolim and sponsors DC Group and Regenta for their support.
