MYJ Defends Title at Grand Sushil Kumar 40 Plus Memorial Soccer Cup

by Chandler D'silva September 23, 2025

Chembur, Mumbai – In a fitting tribute to former RCF football player Sushil Kumar, the Sushil Kumar 40+ Memorial Soccer Cup 2025 returned for a second season, delivering an evening of passion and pride.

Held at St. Sebastian High School Turf in Chembur, the tournament was a spectacular upgrade from its inaugural year, transitioning from a 5v5 to a much grander 9v9 format that showcased the enduring talent of Mumbai’s veteran footballers.

The tournament honored Sushil Kumar’s legacy with thrilling matches on the field and was graced by the esteemed presence of several notable guests. The event was lent prestige by Shree Sameer Wankhede (Zonal Director, NCB), Ms. Neha Nikam (Deputy Commissioner of Customs), Bollywood actor Avinash Tiwari, and Eshita Singh. Also in attendance was Costao Fernandes, a brave officer and recipient of the President’s Award in 1996 for his role in a major 1991 gold smuggling case, whose life story was recently told in the 2025 film Costao.

Speaking at the event, Sameer Wankhede praised the organizers for their commitment. “I want to thank the management that, for the second consecutive year, they have made this Sushil Memorial Cup possible for 40+ veterans,” he said, adding that “it’s inspirational for the younger generation.” Costao Fernandes, a footballer himself, echoed the sentiment, stating, “It’s a great motivation to see the 40+ playing. Seeing this, the youth will get great inspiration from them. This tournament is great for remembering the legend Sushil Kumar.”

The organization of this tournament was driven by Monish Bhamre, who has played a pivotal role in its success for two consecutive years. He announced that he and his team have formed the Friends Sports Club (FSC), and with their help, the Sushil Memorial Cup is now set to be an annual event for the next 15 years, with each season being even grander than the last.

On the field, the veterans put on a display of skill and determination. After a series of closely fought matches, MYJ successfully defended their title, securing the championship once again. Chembur OS put up a valiant fight, finishing as the runners-up in a compelling final. In the third-place match, Kukri XI put on a strong performance against Madanpura to secure the win. Both teams fought hard, but Kukri’s better composure in the tie breaker made the difference and helped them take a well-earned third place in the tournament.

The tournament also recognized several standout individuals for their performances:

Best Goalkeeper: Sanjeev Kumar
Best Defender: Hekmath Singh
Best Midfielder: Vijith Shetty
Top scorer: Krishna Naidu
Player of the tournament: Khalid Siddique

Guests of Honour:

Shri Ramakant More, President Award Winner. He was recently felicitated with an award by Hon’ble Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.

Shri Mukul Gupta, Superintendent of Customs, Air Intelligence Unit.

Shri Abhijeet Patil, Inspector, National Investigation Agency, New Delhi.

Mr. Yugendra Lad, CEO, Virtualist, New York, USA.

The Sushil Kumar 40+ Memorial Soccer Cup 2025 was an unforgettable event, celebrating not only the love for football but also honoring the timeless legacy of football legends—Sushil Kumar Bhatt, Sreeram Sode, Suresh Mandlik, Jay Singh Shera, Bhaskar Maiti, Biten Singh, Stanley Nair, B.T. Rao, B.M. Rao, Sunil Mukherjee, and Vikram Singh—whose passion and contributions continue to inspire generations.

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