AG MADHYA Pradesh were crowned champions while AG Gujarat finished runners-up in the Indian Audit & Accounts Department’s (IA&AD) West Zone Football Tournament which was conducted by the Office of The Accountant General (Audit) II, Maharashtra, Nagpur. Hosts, AG Maharashtra took the third spot on the points table, which was decided on better goal difference. All three teams were locked on nine points, with three wins and one loss. AG Rajasthan finished 4th with six points and AG Chhattisgarh finished last which no points. The matches were played on Round-Robin basis at Shivaji Stadium, Police Headquarters, Katol Road. AG Gujarat and AG Madhya Pradesh qualified for the Inter-Zonal Football Tournament slated to be held in Shillong, Meghalaya from March 11 to 14.

 

They will meet the winners and runners-up of rest of the three zones. In the matches played on Friday, Maharashtra defeated Gujarat 2-0 and Madhya Pradesh blanked Rajasthan 5-0. With the target to win with a goal difference of eight goals to qualify against Gujarat, Maharashtra could manage to score a 2-0 win. Maharashtra’s Sumit Pundir opened the account with a field goal in the 11th minute.The hosts failed to convert the many opportunities which came their way. In the second half, Maharashtra were on attack right from the start but they were not able to penetrate the Gujarat’s defence. Afzal Akhtar of Maharashtra scored a field goal in the 69th minute to make it 2-0. Sumit Pundir was named player of the match. Jaya Bhagat, IAAS, Principal Accountant General (A&E), Maharashtra, Nagpur, gave the prizes. Dattaprasad Shirsat, IAAS,Accountant General (Audit),Nagpur, gave the runners-up trophy to Gujarat. Dinesh Mate, Sr DAG, AkshayKhandare, Sr DAG, Dr BhushanBhirud, Sr DAG, B Manimozhi,DAG, Meghna Jain DAG,Mangesh Tongo, Sr Audit OfficerWelfare and others were alsopresent. Syed Suhail Pasha of Gujarat,was declared as the player oftournament while Maharashtra’sSukhdev Patil was awarded asthe best goalkeeper. Shibani Shelke and VandanaSharma conducted the proceedings while Ranjit Sharma, Sr Audit Officer. YK Deepak, SrAudit Officer, proposed a vote ofthanks.