Rabbani are Elite champs

 

 

 

 

 

AFTER a long hiatus of eleven years, Rabbani Club, Kamptee finally broke the jinx on Boxing Day winning their sixth title by emerging champions in the JSW Elite Division Football Tournament that concluded on Tuesday. In the all important final, Rabbani rallied back from a goal down to pip Rahul Sankrutyayan Sports Association in a high-intensity final at the Dr BR Ambedkar ground in Suyog Nagar. In the 16th minute of play, Rahul club’s Abid Shaikh sent a measured cross and an alert Rahul Mundri, who was stationed at top of the box, made no mistake in giving his side a 1-0 lead. The joy lasted just three minutes. Mohammad Mustajab Ashraf levelled the score on getting a good pass from Owais Ashraf. The teams fought well and the scores read 1-1 at half-time. In the second half, Mustajab netted the decisive goal in the 73rd minute to seal the fate of the final.

 

Rabbani’s Mohammad Huziafa and Rahul’s duo of Rahul Neware and Yash Shukla were shown the yellow card by the referee for foul play. Rabbani were richer by Rs 1.25,000 while the runners-up took home a purse of Rs 75,000. Both the teams also got trophies. Prizes were distributed by chief guest MLA Sameer Meghe. Rajesh Jain, JSW Plant Head, Kalmeshwar was the guest of honour. Rinku Singh (JSW AGM), Sharda Naidu, Satish Gajbhiye, Patil, Harish Vora, President NDFA; Iqbal Kashmiri, Secretary; Stanley Gregory, General Secretary; Eugene Norbert, Vice-President; Atmaram Pandey, Khalid Ansari, Kamil Ansari, AB Khan, Adnan Ali, Mehfooz Akhtar, Upendra Verma, Abid Khan were prominently present.