AI shoot down Navy to win RCF Premier Cup Mumbai: Fancied Air India and a disciplined Indian Navy were engaged in an absorbing duel for supremacy, before the latter clinched a tight 7-6 victory, via a sudden death penalty shootout, in a tense final of the sixth RCF Premier Cup Football Tournament– 2014, sponsored by Deserve Group, and played under floodlights at the picturesque RCF Ground, Chembur. The tournament is organised by the RCF Colony Boys Krida & Sanskrutik Mandal under the aegis of the MDFA. The scores were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time. After a barren first half, Sagar Chile hit the target midway through the second half to give Air India the lead. However, Air India’s advantage did not last too long as a minute later Navy restored parity when Sunil Kumar converted a penalty. Later, the tie-breaker finished in a deadlock at 3-3 and in the crucial sudden death Air India held their nerves and focus to emerge victors. Vijith Shetty, T.Jonychand Singh, Neil Gaikwad, Siddharth Nayak, Vian Joseph and Santosh Koli scored to help Air India win the penalty shootout duel, while Navy scored through Sunil Kumar, Riyad B., Raman Rai, Priyokumar Sharma, and Sahir. Meanwhile, Special Invitee and Chief Guest, India’s Special athlete, Sita Sahu, a double bronze medal winner at the 2011 Special Olympics in Athens, graced the event and before kick-off she met the players of both teams. Her presence at the ground evoked a standing ovation from the huge gathering assembled at the RCF Sports Complex. The champions, Air India received the handsome RCF Premier Cup and a purse of Rs 1.11 lakhs while Navy were presented with the runners-up trophy and a cash award of Rs 55,000. Air India’s Vijith Shetty was adjudged at the ‘Player of the Tornament’ and rode away on a Hero Honda Shine motorbike. Pradeep Kumar of Central Railways was the Best Goalkeeper, while Sumesh from Indian Navy was adjudged the Best Defender and JP Sharma of Indian Navy was declared the Best Forward and the outstation outfit P.T.M. Kolhapur bagged the ‘Fairplay Award’. Results - Final: Air India 7 (Sagar Chile, Vijith Shetty, T.Jonychand Singh, Neil Gaikwad, Siddharth Nayak, Vian Joseph, Santosh Koli) beat Indian Navy 6 (Sunil Kumar 2, Riyad B., Raman Rai, Priyokumar Sharma, Sahir) via the sudden death. Full time – 1-1, Tie-breaker – 3-3. Prizes - Winners’: Air India - Rs 1.11 lakhs; Runners-up: Indian Navy – Rs 55,000. Other awards - Fair Play Trophy: PTM- Kolhapur; Player of the Tournament: Vijith Shetty (Air India) - Honda Shine Motor Bike; Best Goalkeeper: Pradeep Kumar (Central Railway) - Washing Machine; Best Defender: Sumesh P.S. (Indian Navy) - Home Theatre; Highest Goal-scorer: Priyokumar Sharma (Indian Navy) – Refrigerator. The caption for the photograph: 1. The members of the champion team Air India proudly pose with the RCF Premier Cup, after defeating Indian Navy 7-6 via the sudden death in the final at the RCF Sports Complex. 2. Player of the Tournament, Vijith Shetty of Air India, rides away with his award, a Honda Shine Motor Bike.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 08:13:08 +0000
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