The Karnatak Sporting Association (KSA) will hold a condolence meeting to mourn the death of former Maharashtra and KSA football player Dilip Bangera, who had suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away at his residence in Thane on June 18, 2016. The condolence meeting will be held at 6.00 pm on Friday, July 1, 2016, at the Mumbai Press Club, opposite Azad Maidan Police Station.

Bangera, 67, is survived by his wife and son.

The late Bangera, who was an excellent midfielder had represented Maharashtra in the Junior National championship, had initially played for KSA Zonal team in the local league before playing for New India Assurance in the First Division. He then represented Central Bank of India and played for them for several seasons in the Senior Division. After retiring from playing competitive football, Bangera stayed in touch with the sport by coaching youngsters at the KSA and was the manager of the Maharashtra State Sub-Junior team.

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Keivan D’Silva scored for Mogaveera in normal time while Tushar Poojary got the equalizer for Satya Vijaya to force the game into the penalty shootout duel. In the tie-breaker Keivan D’Silva, Hitesh Karkera,Siddharth Puthran and Prakyath Shetty succeeded in scoring for Mogaveera. Satya Vijaya could only convert two penalty kicks through Tushar Poojary and Franco D’Souza.

Earlier in the third place game, Union Sports Club rallied to overcome Mangalore Blues by a 6-3 margin via the tie-breaker. The match finished in a 1-1 draw.

The champs Mogaveera SC received the handsome Late Shri Ramanath Payyade Trophy and a cash award of Rs 50,000 from Chief Guest, Mundappa Payyade and Guests of Honour, Gaurav Payyade along with former International footballer P. Manoharan. Satya Vijaya received the runners-up trophy and a cash prize of Rs 40,000. Union SC who finished third and fourth placed Mangalore Blues were presented with a cash prize of Rs 20,000 and 10,000 respectively.

Rohit Poojary and Hitesh Karkera, both from Mogaveera SC, were declared as the ‘Best goalkeeper and Best defender respectively. The ‘Best midfielder and Best forward’ award went to Kevin D’Souza of Mangalore Blues and Tushar Poojary of Satya Vijaya SC, while Ravish D’Souza of Union Sports Club won the prize as the highest scorer in tournament. All received cash awards.

Third place: Union Sports Club 6 (Ravish D’Souza 2, Ryan Thomas, Arnold Mascarenhas, Akshay Devadiga, Abhijit Shetty) beat Mangalore Blues SC 3 (Joshua Almeida, Aaron Machado, Mujaffar) via the tie-breaker. Full-time – 1-1.

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The game began at a frantic pace with both teams attacking at either end to gain the all important lead. Companeroes defence managed to keep KSA’s in form striker Ahiri Uchela at bay by clearing their lines from Ryan Kolarikkal’s continuous penetrative crosses from the left. The KSA defence on the other hand were caught surprised as they had to deal with an unknown measure in Companeroes debutant & new foreign recruit Steven Olyevuchi, his speed and strength proved to be menacing on quite a few occasions, early in the first half.

Karnataka Sporting were caught on the back foot midway through the first half, when a shot by Reed Santos clearly came off the hand of one of their defenders inside the box, the referee made no hesitation in pointing to the spot. KSA had their goalkeeper Kishen Sulegai to thank, after he pulled of a brilliant save from Jardin Braganza’s penalty kick, diving to his right.

The 2nd half saw KSA  pressing higher with Souvaid Ansari and Valentine Pereira pulling the strings from midfield. Ahiri Uchela did well to keep Companeroes custodian Wren D’Abreo on his toes, after he managed to make some attempts on goal despite close attention from Fazil Sheikh. The Nigerian was handed a brilliant opportunity in the 60th minute when he was put through the middle by Tarique Ansari but it was an outstretched Wren D’Abreo’s fingertips that denied KSA the lead.

Companeroes got back into the game with some consistent passing in the midfield as Joshua Vessaokar and Reed Santos combined well to take the Red and Yellow attack forward. Their efforts paid dividends in the 74th minute when Steven Olyevuchi latched on to a loose ball outside the KSA box, after a cross from the left was not properly dealt with. Steven’s square pass was perfectly met by Joshua, who made a clever run into the box and unleashed a rasping shot with his left foot. The goal came as a big boost to Companeroes talisman Joshua Vessaokar, making his return to the team after a year’s absence.

KSA tried to claw their way back into the game dominating possession and making attempts at the Companeroes goal but were denied on every occasion. The frustration took to them as Ahiri Uchela was shown the red card for an off the ball incident in the 80th minute, when he deliberately elbowed Fazil Sheikh in the face. The task got all the more difficult for KSA, being down to 10 men. Companeroes Nigerian import Steven Olyevuchi had a glorious opportunity to grab his debut goal and further the lead in the closing stages but was unfortunate to see his effort come off the upright with KSA keeper Kishen Sulegai rooted to the spot.

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It was a lively game from the off, as both teams were out of the blocks early. In the 15th minute Central Bank’s Scott D’Souza was allowed to run at the KSA defence as he unleashed a powerful shot on goal, which was well kept out by the KSA shot stopper Kishan Sulegai.

Eight minutes later, Arihi Uchela missed a great chance to put KSA in front as he failed to make a connection to a perfectly weighted cross from Muneer Shaikh from the left flank. The cross was begging to be headed home and it was a big miss from the KSA center forward.

A minute later at the other end, Melwin Waz broke free of the KSA defence as he chased down a pass. The charging goalkeeper failed to make any kind of contact to the ball as the chasing Melwin Waz was able to reach it and deliver a cross across the face of the empty goal. But KSA mananged to scramble it clear. Huge let off for Kishan Sulegai, the KSA goalkeeper.

He is called into action again a minute later when Scott D’Souza gets past KSA’s Shabbir Shaikh way too easily and drilled a low shot at the KSA goal. This time though. Kishan Sulegai was upto the challenge as he saved brilliantly to deny Central Bank the lead.
A couple of minutes later, Arihi Uchela was played in on goal and he was denied by a sensational one handed save from Sarfaraz Ansari. Uchela should have scored having had plenty of time to compose himself.

He was booked in the 31st minute when he unfairly stopped Central Bank from playing a quick free kick. Stupid from the KSA No.10. Central Bank nearly took the lead in the 38th minute when, a cross from the left flank was just behind Scott D’Souza’s run. It was a good bit of play from Central Bank.

KSA finally broke the deadlock in the 39th minute when Aayesh Shaikh did brilliantly well to get past the Central Bank full back and pick out Arihi Uchela’s run who tapped in from six yards to put KSA in front.

KSA managed to hold the lead into half time as the referee drew an entertaining half to a close.

We had the first opening of the second half, with just two minute played as Sarfaraz Ansari produced an absolute blinder of a save to dent KSA a second goal.

But KSA got that opportunity when they were awarded a penalty in the 56th minute which was colly slotted home by Arihi Uchela a minute later. He got his hat-trick four minutes later as he showed great pace to get to the ball ahead of the Central Bank center back to beat the keeper and score from a very tight angle and make it 3-0 to KSA.

Arihi Uchela more than made up for his missed opportunities in the first half as he put KSA in sight of a victory. There were plenty of chances for both sides as we approached the final ten minutes of the game with Central Bank trying scale down a three goal deficit.
KSA were content with the scoreline as they dropped the intensity as Central Bank pushed hard for their opening goal. The game was increasingly being played in the KSA half.

The KSA goalkeeper produced a fantastic save in the fourth minute of stoppage time to ensure that KSA keep a cleansheet.

KSA’s victory was based on good decisive play by their forwards which tilted the game in their favor. Central Bank gave a good account of themselves but lacked a cutting edge in front of the goal as they left Cooperage empty handed.

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The start of the game was delayed by more than an hour because of presiding events, but the game eventually kicked off as KSA started the brighter of the two sides, working the Western Railways’ goalkeeper Nisar Khan who punched away a dangerous looking cross in the 3rd minute of the game.

Two minutes later, there was a stoppage in the game as one of the lights went off, but the officials quickly addressed the issue and play resumed with the Western Railways keeper on the toes again as he cleared a long ball aimed at KSA striker Arihi Uchela in the 7th minute.

The first real attempt on goal came two minutes later when Arihi Uchela played in winger Valentine Perreira who unleashed a ferocious shot at the Western Railways’ goal. But goalkeeper Nisar Khan was equal to the task again as he saved brilliantly to deny KSA.

A minute later, he is called upon again as he saves from Arihi Uchela. Western Railways conjure their first real opening of the game in the 15th minute, when Somi P.T shoots straight at the KSA goalkeeper after meeting Prakash Patil’s cross.

Western Railways buoyed by the previous attempt almost take the lead two minutes later when Linekar Machado is picked out by a brilliant long ball from defense to send him through on goal, only for the former I-League star to fire wide. The best chance of the game had fallen the Western Railways’ way but they failed to capitalize.

After a bright start by KSA, Western Railways had found their feet and gave KSA some problems. But overall it was a fairly even game. In the 27th minute Keniertan of Western Railways forced a double save out of the KSA keeper.

The half drew to a close with an injury to KSA goalkeeper Manish Kajania after he collided with a Western Railways forward before collecting a loose pass. But he recovered as the referee blew for half time.

The second half had a similar pattern wherein both sides worked the opposition keeper briefly in the opening minutes of the second period. With very few clear cut chances, the game started getting physical and more of a midfield battle.

KSA’s Valentine Perreira sparked into life in the 52nd minute when he went past the opposition left back with a great piece of skill to set up striker Arihi Uchela who shot over. It was breathtaking play for Valentine Perreira who was having a good evening so far.

Two minutes later, Western Railways’ Somi P.T. sent his shot across the face of the goal. Both teams were sensing a winner and the game suddenly had a lot of life about it as we approached the end of the second half.

But neither side could break the deadlock as we headed for the penalty shootout.
Western Railways were the first to shoot and Somi P.T. stepped up for them and slotted home the spot kick in the top right corner as the keeper dived the other way. But KSA failed to level the score as substitute Shabbir Shaikh sent his kick wide. Western Railways found themselves 2-0 up as Somnath Mandal scored in the bottom right corner giving the KSA shot stopper no chance.

Umer Fabian restored KSA’s hopes as he pulled one back as he scraped his kick through in the bottom left corner just escaping Nasir Khan’s clutches. But Linekar Machado soon regained the two goal cushion as he struck his kick in the bottom left corner. Hitesh Karkera kept KSA’s hopes alive as he send the keeper the wrong way to bring the score at 3-2 in Western Railways’ favor.

Manish Kajania almost saves Pratik Patil’s spot kick as it goes in off the post to get Western Railways on the brink. Keeping in mind the importance of the next spot kick, KSA’s star frontman Arihi Uchela steps up to slot home in the top right corner to keep the game going.

Charanjit Singh finally seals the victory for Western Railways as his spot kick finds the back of the net despite the KSA keeper getting a hand to it, to send Western Railways through.

Western Railways edged a very tight game as they showed better composure in the shootout. They will now await the winners of Dilbahar FC and Indian Navy in the Quarter Finals to be played on Saturday.

Earlier in the day, Great Mother F.C and Premier Indian Football Academy Colaba sealed their passage through to the Quarter Finals through the same route of penalty kicks as Western Railways.

Great Mother saw off hosts Rashtriya Chemicals & Fertilizers after a dramatic sixty minutes, which saw both sides take the lead and lose it as Kevin Patrick’s late leveler for RCF saw a shootout which G.M.F.C edged 4-3 after Raju Meetei’s opener for the hosts was cancelled out by goals from Suchil Ranade and Michael Idewele which game G.M.F.C the lead.

The second game between P.I.F.A. Colaba and Mumbai Customs was a roller coaster ride. Elvis Ozawara gave P.I.F.A Colaba the lead which was cancelled out by a Mathias Coutinho penalty before half time. Mumbai Customs rallied to a 3-1 lead after the break with goals from Mathias Coutinho and Jinto Jose before P.I.F.A. fought back to level the tie at 3-3 as Elvis Ozawara completed his hattrick. Mumbai Customs never recovered from this setback as they lost the shootout 4-1.

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It was quiet a surprise when newly promoted KSA took the lead through Tarique Ansari in the 24th minute, when he latched on to a rebound after the Air India keeper struggled  to deal with a powerful shot from Ahiri Uchena.

Air India came back  with an immediate reply as they grabbed the equalizer just 2 minutes later, Ashkar C.V’s goal bound shot took a wicked deflection of a KSA defender completely beating Kishan Sulegai in goal  for KSA.

Although the goal never seemed to deter the new comers, as they continued to attack with the same vigour, their efforts were rewarded in the 34th minute when Ahiri Uchena did brilliantly to control a long throw by Fabian and converted the opportunity with ease.

Air India were quick to reduce the margin again in the 42nd minute with Praveen Sharma’s composed finish after they took advantage of KSA being down to 10 men, when Souvaid Ansari was sent off by referee Abhishek Dey for a second yellow card offence just minutes earlier. Both teams went into the break with a the scores tied at 2 a piece.

KSA knew they would have a rough ride in the 2nd half playing with just 10 but much credit to their players: Captain and stopper back Shabbir Ali, Sam Cruz, Sherwyn Chang & Valentine Pereira, who did all the hard work to keep Air India from getting that all important goal that would put them in the lead.

It took Air India until the 88th minute to break KSA’s water tight defence, all be it by an unfortunate own goal when keeper Kishan failed to collect a cross from the left flank, misjudging the flight of the ball, unexpectedly it went in off a deflection from Ryan Kolarikkal who was caught  completely unaware  as he was covering for Kishan right behind him. The goal then opened the flood gates for another two after the 90, as a demoralized KSA looked to have given up the fight towards the end.

Air India completed the rout with goals by Vijith Shetty in the 93rd and Sagar Chile in the 94th minute making the scoreline a convincing 5-2.

It was quite a show by Karnatak Sporting Association, despite the loss the newly promoted side gave the defending champions a run for their money with a resolute performance in their very first game of the Elite division.

The win has now put Air India in the 3rd spot behind Mumbai Customs having a superior goal difference with 7 points after 3 games.

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Karnataka Sporting Association emerged victorious at a recently concluded tournament at Devlali Nashik, which hosts some of the big teams of Maharashtra and other states. They overcame the mighty Mumbai Customs in nail bitting semi-final match with a 1-0 win. A goal from their Nigerian recruit Ahiri Uche in the first half of extra time proved vital for KSA as they booked their place in the final.

In the finals played on Monday 29th September, KSA were up against a tough opponent in the form of NUPC Aurangabad. An action pact first half saw 3 goals score by each of the teams, it was KSA who opened their scoring through Ahiri Uche, who did well to take the ball in his stride from a throw in, to unleash a rasping shot in the back of the net. Although thier lead was short lived when NUPC came up with a equalizer within 5 minutes of the first goal. KSA did well to fight back and regained the lead towards the end of the first half when their midfielder Sherwyn Chang did all the hardwork to present Ahiri Uche with an easy tap in. NUPC were lucky to snatch a late equalizer in the second half as they took advantage of a lapse in the KSA defense, forcing the game into extra time

Extra time saw quite a cagey game as both teams were looking to deny each other that all important goal. But it was goalkeeper Kishan Sulegai who turned out to be the hero for KSA with 2 outstanding saves in the penalty shootout with Ahiri Uche, Valentine Pereira, Shabbir Ali and Tarique Ansari all converting their penalties as KSA went on to win the final

They also finished with a few honours as Kishan Sulegai was adjudged ‘The Best Goalkeeper’ and Shabbir Ali was awarded ‘The Best Defender’. We here at Football Counter congratulate Karnataka Sporting Association and wish them all the very best for the upcoming season!

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