Bangladesh’s Krida Siksha Protisthan won their first ever Subroto Cup title as they defeated Chandigarh’s Government Model School in the penalty shootout by a margin of 4-2 after the game finished goalless after extra time. This meant that the Bangladesh side lifted the Under-14 Boys title at the 57th Subroto Cup International Football Tournament trophy at the Dr. Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi.
It was a tug-of-war between the two sides throughout the game as both the teams got enough chances at each other’s goal. However, the game could not be decided within the normal time of 50 minutes. Therefore, extra time was played between the two teams where the two finalists looked tired and fatigued. But as we had seen in both the semi-finals, it all came down to the penalty shootout in the end, to decide who would become the champion.
The final failed to live up to the expectations as one would have imagined as both the teams had played some extravagant football in the first and second weeks of the tournament. The crowd had expected some early fireworks from both the sides but it was absent throughout, except for some sporadic raids inside rival boxes.
Safety first approach
The two teams had sized up each other’s strengths and weaknesses prior to the final and had adopted a safety-first approach right from the whistle. In fact, both were more cautious about not conceding a goal and it resulted in both teams fortifying with solid defense.
Earlier, Chandigarh’s Government Model School started the game on the front foot as they came agonizingly close on many occasions. Former India player, Harjinder Singh, who is the coach of the Chandigarh side, had said before the game that his side would dominate the proceedings against the neighbours and they did so in prime fashion during the game. But it wasn’t to be their day as they eventually lost the final.
It could have been a high-scoring encounter between the two teams at the Ambedkar Stadium but the defence held its nerve throughout the game at the key moments. It all came down to the performances of both the goalkeepers during the penalty shootout as the pressure of losing a final was there for all to see.
Bangladesh’s goalkeeper, Saiful Islam saved the day for his side as he saved a wonderful penalty to deny Chandigarh from equalising in the shootout. For the Dhaka squad, it was Tuhid-ul Islam, Mohammad Habibur Rahman, Alman Rahman and Abdul Kader, who converted all their shots from the penalty spot. However, there was only one Bangladeshi player who missed his strike – Usaf Ali Jibon, who took the first penalty.
Whereas, for the Chandigarh outfit, Balraj and Pawan were the only two scorers for their side while three of their teammates – Karan Singh, Taison, and Gobin – missed the target. It started a huge celebration in the Bangla camp as Delhi Dynamos’ head coach Gianluca Zambrotta, along with a battery of officials, applauded the efforts of the two teams.
Post-match reaction
After the game, Goa’s Holy Spirit Institute High School received the fair play award while Bangladesh’s Habibur Rahman got the Best Player award.
Chief guest Air Marshal M.K.Malik, who is also the vice-chairman of the Subroto Mukherjee Sports Education Society, gave away the trophy to the winners along with chief guests – Delhi Dynamos’ president, Prashant Agarwal, chief technical officer Vishnu Madhu, head coach Gianluca Zambrotta, and assistant coach Simone Barone – who joined the prize distribution ceremony.
Zambrotta spoke highly of the tournament and the Subroto Society and its sustained efforts for over five decades in hosting the football tournament for schoolboys.
“It’s a good concept and a healthy way to nurture talent,” said the celebrated coach.
