MSSA boys' U-16 Division 1 defending champions confident of retaining title as they open campaign against Navy Children School at Azad Maidan today
Campion (Cooperage) coach Wilfred Alva (centre) during a training session with his under-16 Division-I team at Churchgate recently. Pic/Suresh Karkera
Defending champions Campion 'A' (Cooperage), who clinched their maiden Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-16 Division I title last season, are up for the challenge this year.
Campion (Cooperage) coach Wilfred Alva (centre) during a training session with his under-16 Division-I team at Churchgate recently. Pic/Suresh Karkera
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They play their opening match of the new season of school football against Navy Children School (Colaba) at Azad Maidan today.
Last season, they beat former champions Don Bosco 'A' (Matunga) 4-3 via tiebreaker to win the title.
Campion skipper Jay Maliye, who scored the decisive goal in sudden death against Don Bosco last season to help the Cooperage school win the title said, "We took a break in April and then started practicing once again as soon as our school reopened in the first week June," said Jay.
"The key players for our team this year will be Aryan Majumdar and Aditya Agarwal. Being the defending champions, there will be pressure, but we are confident of doing well," the 15-year-old added.
Easy group
Campion coach Wilfred Alva said that they are lucky to have a comparatively easier group. The Cooperage side has Jamnabai Narsee 'A' (Juhu), Navy Children (Colaba), St Dominic Savio (Andheri), St Mary's SSC (Mazagaon), St Joseph's (Wadala) and Swami Vivekanand International (Kandivli) in Group A.
Meanwhile, Group B is more competitive with teams like Don Bosco 'A' (Matunga), Christ Church (Byculla), Don Bosco (Borivli), St Lawrence (Kandivli), Bombay Scottish 'A' (Mahim), St Mary's ICSE (Mazagaon), St Stanislaus (Bandra) and St Francis D'Assisi 'A' (Borivli) in it.
"We have a relatively easier draw compared to Don Bosco. If we play well, then we can reach the semi-final stage. I feel that Group B has all the tough teams put together. But I am happy with the draw," said Alva.
Balanced team
The coach added that, despite only two players remaining from the title winning squad, Campion has a balanced team.
"Most of last year's side has passed out especially Joshua Machado, Ryan Badekar and Sanay Doshi. This year we have only two players who were a part of the winning team — captain Jay Mailye and Aditya Agarwal.
"Two U-14 players Aryan Mujumdar and Shaurya Motwani are the ones to watch out for this year."
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