106th RCF Nadkarni Cup Football, 2012

The 106th Edition of the Nadkarni Cup will kick off from the 3rd of October at RCF Sports Complex in Chembur, Mumbai. In 1908, the Rovers Club of Mumbai for the first time had organised a tournament for the upcoming young talent of Mumbai.

This cup was named after the famous sports goods dealer of Mumbai Mr. Nadkarni and its co-owner Late Ghanashyam Niljkanth Nadkarni. They donated the trophy for the inaugral edition of the tournament, from 1908 to 1913. The Nadkarni cup was termed as Junior Rovers Cup. The winners of its 1st edition were BES School who beat the Mary’s College boys to clinch the cup.

Since 1915, it came to be called as the Nadkarni Cup, in which St Mary’s High School lifted the Cup for a record 5 consecutive times from 1909-1912. But this tournament was unfortunately truncated at 1914 due to World War I. After an abeyance of 11 years, it finally resumed in 1925. In the finals, a Hyderabad based Club, Qamer Club won the Trophy beating Matunga Hindus 2-1.

From the year 1993 to 2000, it was not held due to some financial problems. Mumbai FC have a chance to complete their hat-trick as they have won both the 104th and the 105th edition of this tournament. Last year, Mumbai FC beat PIFA Colaba 4-0 in the final to clinch the Trophy.

Winners of Nadkarni Cup in the last five years:

2011 : Mumbai FC2010 : Mumbai FC2009 : Air India2008 : United Bank of India2007 : Central Railway