JEDDAH — Soccer Freakz capped its run by clinching the Under-13 title of the 4th Nadec-Blue Star Soccerfest 2018 by beating Talent Teens 1-0 at the Hilal Shyam Stadium on Khaled Bin Waleed Street here.
Qurban ACC FC and United Sports Club will meet in the final of the Second Division. Both the teams won their semifinals by one goal each.
ACC FC defeated Snehasparsham Jeddah FC and United downed hosts Blue Star. While Mohammed Fadal scored for ACC, Mohammed Shafi found the target for United. ACC goalkeeper Mohammed Irshad and Blue Star midfielder Ismail were selected as the best players of the semifinals.
This tournament is mainly sponsored by Nadec.
A spirited and gritty Soccer Freakz boys utilized their height and physical advantage to good effect to maintain an edge throughout over their little but stylish Talent Teens. The winners applied pressure from the beginning, pushing their rivals into defense. And Teens struggled.
Whatever Soccer Freakz threw at Talent Teens, they had a dependable and very promising goalkeeper Mohammed Adnan to their rescue. He showed excellent temperament, positioning and timing. He was rightly selected as the best goalkeeper of the tournament.
But midway through the first session, Adnan was kept just a spectator by the winners when Musab neatly blasted a lob from Aman Papatta into the left corner of the net. It was the shot of the match.
Talent Teens fought gallantly in the second session with their Mohammed Farhan trying his best. This little kid too exhibited wonderful control and graceful movements. There was another promising one at the left wing, Mohammed Shihan, catching the attention of spectators. However, Soccer Freakz had enough ammunition to scotch the rivals’ challenge.
Mohammed Farhan was adjudged the Player of the Final. IISJ Physical Education Head Rasheed Alikkal presented the award to Farhan.
SIFF President Baby Neelambra, secretary Shabeer Ali presented the trophies and cash awards.
Performance awards:
Best goalkeeper — Mohammed Adnan (Talent Teens); best defender — Shadin (JSC); best midfielder — Nihal Abdul Azeez (Soccer Freakz); best forward — Dushyant (Sporting United) and top scorer — Nihal abdul Azeez (Soccer Freakz).
Performance awards were sponsored by Mass Computers. Greenland Restaurant gifted the award for the top scorer.
Teams:
Soccer Freakz — Adnan K., Nihad Naushad, Fazil Omar, Irfan Azeez, Sabeeh Sherief, Nihal Abdul Azeez, Adil Rahman, Musab, Adnan Muneer, Aman Papatta (C), Yaseen Hashim, Noor Mohammed Haris, Aman Majeed, Nadeem Mohammed, Roshan Mohammed, Abdullah, Harshin, Fayaz, Basem, Mubasher, Syed Abbas, Alfin, Hadi and Mazin Mohammed.
Talent Teens — Mohammed Adnan, Ayham Shihad, Abdul Fattah, Mohammed Anshid, Sreeraj Krishna, Yohan Sinu, Sravan Balakrishnan, Hatim Ali, Adnan Abdul Jabbar, Fadil Mustafa, Mohammed Shihan, Anas Hammed, Rameez Rizwan, Jifin Yousuf, Mohammed Nasif, Mohammed Fawwaz, Mohammed Farhan, Mohammed Jasil, Shajan Shafeeq and Syed Umer Khaleel.
Friday will witness three finals: Sporting United vs. Soccer Freakz (Under-17), Qurban ACC FC vs. United Sports Club (Second Division) and Zabin Sharafiya Trading FC vs. Blasters FC (Super League). — SG
