PIFA Colaba FC beat Akbar Travels 2-1 in the Maha League 3/4th place playoffs to round off a successful I-League 2nd Division qualifying campaign
PIFA Colaba FC ended the Maharashtra I-League 2nd Division qualifying campaign on a high after beating Akbar Travels 2-1 in the playoff round to finish 3rd overall. The Colaba outfit, who have been flying high in the Elite Division as well this season, were unfortunate to be defeated on penalties in the semi-finals but showed character to win at Cooperage on Wednesday. The goals came from Canopy Chu and Souvaid Ansari.
The team is sponsored by PIFA, coached by Nirvan Shah (UEFA licensed) and managed by Sudhakar Rane.
1 Kishan Sulegai (GK)
2 Vincent Asuquo (Captain)
3 Clifford Garrett (VC)
4 Canopy Chu
5 Nitesh Monde
6 Souvaid Ansari
7 Sam Cruz
8 Nasar Syed
9 Mazhar Shaikh
10 George Udo
11 Nagesh Swamy
12 Uday Konar
13 Dashyang Kachru
14 Sarfaraz Ansari (GK)
15 Utsav Bachani
16 Siddesh Shinde
17 Muneer Shaikh
18 Ganesh Kamath
19 David D’souza
The PIFA Colaba FC outfit has come a long way in the past 5 years. The club started in 2006-2007 got promoted from the Senior to the Super division in their very first year of formation, followed it up with an extraordinary second consecutive promotion the next season into the Elite division. PIFA Colaba FC, started as an initiative of the "PIFA Foundation for the benefit of sports" and the Colaba Youngstar SC, was rechristened to PIFA Colaba FC in 2009. In the last season, PIFA Colaba FC youth teams U19 team & U15 team got promotions, they will play the 1st Division & 2nd division respectlively in 2010-11.
Ganesh Kamath had this to say “My learning curve in this team has risen exponentially thanks to the coach and senior players who are always guiding and supporting us young players during training & matches. I have got a chance to play the Elite, I league qualifiers and to finish 3rd, it is a dream come true.”
The team is currently in 3rd place in the MDFA Elite league two places above I league team - ONGC and has one game in hand. Mumbai FC & Air India are on the top.
The side has been coached by Nirvan Shah and has maintained performance and result levels on a very restricted budget. The team is currently looking for sponsorship in order to facilitate development and player growth and strive for even better results in the future.
The PIFA Academy also has other laurels to be proud of recently with various members being selected to play for India at different age levels. Kunashni Parikh was elected Vice Captain of the U-16 Girls team this year while Natasha Merchant was called up to the U-14 girls side last year. Harshad Meher and Ajith Bhoir were part of the Indian U-15 side in 2008 with Hussain Vahanvaty representing India at U-13 level in 2009. Many more children from the Academy have played for the State team as well. PIFA is in charge of several State, School and Academy teams who have done increasingly well under their guidance over the years.
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