Champs ONGC hog the spotlight; Delfiya, Ranjeet bag best strikers

Delfiya Pereira of Football Leaders Academy (FLA) and Ranjeet Pandre of Union Bank of India bagged the ‘Best Striker’ awards in the Mumbai District Football Association (MDFA) organised Women’s Football League and Elite Division Football League 2017-2018 respectively. Both, Delfiya and Ranjeet were given an encouraging applause from the large gathering as they received their awards during a glittering MDFA Awards Night 2017-2018 function at the Cooperage Football Stadium.

However, Oil & Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) team hogged the spotlight as they got the biggest cheers as went on to receive the coveted ‘Elite Division’ trophy and the winners’ cheque of `1 lakh from Chief Guests, football legend and former Indian captain Shabbir Ali and mercurial ex-Indian striker I.M. Vijayan along with MDFA President, Aaditya Thackeray.

Having finished runners-up in the previous two seasons, ONGC finally emerged champions when they defeated Air India 1-0 in the concluding and title-deciding league match to finish with 31 points, one more than the airmen. Union Bank of India received the award for finishing in third place.

Besides, Shabbir Ali and Vijayan, other dignitaries present on the occasion was Sunil Kapoor, Chairman & MD, Blue Sea Banquets, Souter Vaz, Hon. Secretary, WIFA, Olympians M.M. Somaya and Merwyn Fernandis, both members of the Indian team that won the hockey Gold medal at the 1980 Moscow Games, to name a few. Many Indian stars, both men and women were also present at the event.

Shabbir Ali, whose forte was the ability to beat the rival defenders with his high leap and score goals with his power-packed headers, was all praise of MDFA’s efforts in organising the awards night. “During my playing and coaching career I’ve played in many parts of the country and I’ve also attended  football finals and functions, but I've never seen such a grand awards night. The top three teams from every division, right from U-12 to the Elite Division, were presented with awards and also players for their individual performances. This is just the right kind of motivation required for the young players to do well,” said the former Tata’s Sports Club striker, who was a big crowd-puller and with his style of play had entertained the football enthusiasts at the Cooperage ground.

Football Leaders Academy, who retained the Women’s Crown, received their trophy from Municipal Corporator Urmila Panchal and MDFA Vice-President, Suzzane Chowdhry. Priya Tiwari scored the lone goal as Football Leaders had defeated Football School of India 1-0 in the final.

HDFC Bank received the Super Division champions trophy, while Central Railway won the runners-up prize, while last year’s champs Air India Under-19 won the Third Place prize.