City lads win varsity football tournament for 2nd time since ’15

Navi Mumbai: Panvel-based Pillai College, representing Navi Mumbai, emerged winner in the just held Mumbai University Inter-Collegiate Football Championship-2018 for the second time in so many years. They defeated the defending champion Thakur College of Kandivli. First time the city boys won varsity tourney in 2015 under the leadership of current India player and Nerul resident Nikhil Poojary.
The boys trounced Thakur College in a one-sided final show-off by 2-0 to be crowned the champion title. The title encounter was played at Mumbai University Grounds in Marine Lines.The star of the show was undoubtedly striker Ashish Lalge who scored two amazing goals in the second half to ensure victory after an empty run for last two years. This was Pillai College’s 2nd title after booking berths in the finals for 6th consecutive year.
The first half was an even encounter and ended goalless. In the decisive second half, Ashish Lalge picked up the ball on the right wing, cut back inside and unleashed a powerful left footed shot from outside the box to beat the rival goal keeper. Ashish scored the second goal in similar fashion to give Navi Mumbai the title. Captain Daniel Muthu gave credit of the victory to players and coaches Mangesh Desai and K T John for their motivation and support.
Pillai College’s sports director Padmakshan Padmanabhan said, “With the win we have yet again dominated the football scene in Mumbai University. This was our second gold in last 6 years. Our college has so far produced some top footballers who represented the country and Nikhil Poojary and Rahul Bheke are amongst them.”
The victorious city players include Daniel Muthu, Abu Hamza, Sunil Thakur, Abbhijeet T, Kartik Shetty, Ashish Lalge, Sylvester Fernandes, KartikYenukar, YashVanveru, Vinod Pandey, Nitin Chaudhary, Saudagar Mate, Kaif Khan, Sanchit Singh, Saud Shaikh, PrathameshRokde, Nikhil Patil, Soham P.