Mira-Bhayander Football Club wins inaugural Mira-Bhayander Football League

The inaugural Mira-Bhayander Football League (MBFL) 2016 saw MDFA Division I side Mira-Bhayander Football Club (MBFC) triumph in the competition. The tournament was organized in a 3-week long league format by the Mira-Bhayander Football Club in association with Achiever Sports Academy at the Lokmaniya Tilak Ground, Mira Road from 7th-22nd May, 2016.

“Our aim was to encourage the youth of Mira Road and Bhayander, make football a part of their lives and bring together the football-playing community of the two towns,” said Inderjit Khaira, Head Organizer of the MBFL and player at MBFC. A total of eight teams participated: Mira-Bhayander Football Club, Mira-Bhayander Football Club NXT, Miracle Football Club, Maxi Boyz, Srishti Football Club, Atlanta Football Club, United Brothers Football Club and Mira Road Sports Club.

“The tournament planned to uplift the sportsman’s spirit of individuals from different teams and create a platform to showcase the talent of Mira Road and Bhayander footballers to the general public,” explained Inderjit Khaira while talking to Footballcounter about the league’s motto “One Town – One Dream – One Team”. The tournament “had a team who looked after individual aspects of organizing a tournament – right from the ball-boys and trophies for the winners to advertising was covered by the organizing team,” added Inderjit.

With proper aid for organizing a league, the support of all three sectors (society, participants and government officials) remains a key ingredient to host a successful tournament. Muzaffar Hussain, Member of Legislative Council of Maharashtra stated, “It is encouraging on the part of the organizers and the local governing bodies to present the sport with a platform to grow. We are constantly trying to develop playing facilities in the area and encourage the kids to play through these initiatives.”

A key-role – as Inderjit Khaira and Muzaffar Hussain stated – was played by Corporator Pramod Samat. “The whole league would not have been possible without the support of Corporator Shri Pramod Samant ji, who played an equal role to make the event grand in its inaugural season,” expressed Inderjit Khaira.

The first-edition of the league was concluded with a series of individual honours being presented: