U-16 Nationals - Final Phase: The Results

The 34th edition of the Sub-Junior Under-16 National Football Championship for the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy ended yesterday with the final which Assam won 2-0 against Chandigarh. For the Northeastern state it was their first title since 1981, when they had jointly won with Kerala. Now it was the fourth title for Assam.

The Coca Cola sponsored Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy saw more then 40,000 children participate in the district, then state and zonal levels with the best 10 Under-16 state teams playing in the final round in Goa.


FIXTURES & RESULTS

Group A
Goa, Karnataka, Meghalya, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh

08-Mar-2012: Meghalaya 2-4 Karnataka
08-Mar-2012: Goa 1-0 Orissa
10-Mar-2012: Uttar Pradesh 3-3 Karnataka
10-Mar-2012: Orissa 1-0 Meghalaya
12-Mar-2012: Uttar Pradesh 1-0 Goa
12-Mar-2012: Karnataka 0-5 Orissa
14-Mar-2012: Uttar Pradesh 2-1 Meghalaya
14-Mar-2012: Karnataka 1-5 Goa
16-Mar-2012: Orissa 2-1 Uttar Pradesh
16-Mar-2012: Goa 0-1 Meghalaya

Group B
Assam, Chandigarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

09-Mar-2012: Tamil Nadu 0-1 Madhya Pradesh
09-Mar-2012: Jharkhand 3-1 Assam
11-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 7-1 Madhya Pradesh
11-Mar-2012: Assam 6-1 Tamil Nadu
13-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 4-2 Jharkhand
13-Mar-2012: Madhya Pradesh 2-2 Assam
15-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 8-0 Tamil Nadu
15-Mar-2012: Madhya Pradesh 2-1 Jharkhand
17-Mar-2012: Assam 1-0 Chandigarh
17-Mar-2012: Jharkhand 6-2 Tamil Nadu

Semifinals
19-Mar-2012: Orissa 0-5 Assam
20-Mar-2012: Chandigarh 3-1 Uttar Pradesh

Final
23-Mar-2012: Assam 2-0 Chandigarh

Under-16 Nationals: Assam champions!

Assam has caused a big surprise by winning the 34th Sub-Junior National Football Championship for the Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy. In the Under-16 National finals played at the Nehru Stadium in Margao, Goa today the Northeastern side defeated Chandigarh 2-0 with a goal in each half.

Assam seized the initiative right from the kick-off. After muffing two easy opportunities in the first ten minutes itself, they were eventually rewarded in the 11th minute when Milan Basumatary slotted home from close range after being fed by Lalzeiram Hmar from the right, a one goal lead which Assam maintained till the interval.

In the second half, Chandigarh came back with more purpose and had it not been for Assam goalkeeper Danswrang Basumatary who kept Samuel Lalmuanpuia's shot at bay in the 50th minute, the story could have been different. Chandigarh pressed hard but were not able to restore parity, the bast chance was Vikram Singh's long ranger hitting the post. At the other end Assam's Robin Chhetri failed to finish it off following his solo burst, but then Zeherui Islam sealed the game for Assam as he chipped the ball over rival goalkeeper Zothanmawia following a Rafel Narzary pass.

The chief guest was AIFF Player-of-the-Year Sunil Chhetri, who distributed the prizes while former India team mates Climax Lawrence and Mahesh Gawli were also present on the occasion along with Goa Football Association president Srinivas Dempo.

Mizoram are Under-16 National champions!

Mizoram beat defending champions Jharkhand 2-1 in the finals of the Under-16 Nationals for the 33rd Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy at the Mohun Bagan ground in Kolkata this afternoon. International soft drink maker Coca Cola are the sponsors of the tournament and they once more tried to create some hype around the final with the ground all in Coke red and white, there was a DJ around and kids brought in to have some atmosphere.

The Northeast boys from Mizoram took the lead through talented striker Ramengmawia in the 10th minute, but that didn't last long as Jharkhand striker Syed Shoaib Ahmed equalised only seven minutes later. It remained one-all going into the breather with both sides trying to get once more onto the scoresheet.

After the break Mizoram would score the winner in the 55th minute through David K. Hmingthanga's intelligent chip over Jharkhand keeper Ranajit Das and they could have enhanced their lead through chances on counter attacks, while Jharkhand had more of the ball but wasted their few chances.

We saw some interesting football, good organisation and often raw talent with Mizoram No. 10 Ramengmawia being the pick of the players, but sadly he is way too short in height.

For Mizoram it was their fifth Under-16 National title and they received the award from Indian football captain Baichung Bhutia and Coca Cola India head Atul Singh in the post-match function which was attended by AIFF General Secretary Kushal Das, AIFF vice-Presidents Subrata Dutta and Ankur Datta, IFA Secretary Utpal Kumar Ganguli and former India captain P.K. Banerjee.