Shot in the arm for varsity football

MUMBAI: In what comes as a major boost to the usually flagging condition of football at the University level, property dealers Nirmal Group and former national team skipper Baichung Bhutia announced the launch of the University Football League (UFL) that will see 80 colleges from across 5 cities compete for a total prize money of Rs 20 lakh and more importantly, the chance to impress clubs.
The UFL is being scheduled towards the end of the year and will see 16 colleges from each city – Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Bangalore and Kochi – square off against each other. The top-two teams from every city will compete against each other for the title. The winners and runners-up would get Rs 10 and 5 lakh respectively.
Ryan strikes brace in Takshila United win: Cyril Gabriel striker Ryan Lobo struck a fine brace in his team's 2-1 win over Mumbai Strikers in a MDFA Division I game played at the St Xavier's Ground in Parel on Friday. Leon Menezes struck the lone goal for the losers.
Results: Cyril Gabriel 2 (Ryan Lobo 2) beat Mumbai Strikers 1 (Leon Menezes); Chemburites SC 2 (Nitin Shettigar, Ankur Natekar) beat Soccer AZ 1 (Eusibeo Rego).
32 teams for ONGC-NGO football tourney: Thirty-two teams over three age categories will lock horns in the ONGC NGO Football Championship to be played at the Western Railway Ground in Mahalaxmi on Sunday. The five-a-side tournament will be conducted in three age categories – Boys’ 12-14, Boys’ 14-16 and Girls’ 13-16 years.