Real Kerala FC retains SIFF title

JEDDAH — Reigning A Division champion TSS Real Kerala FC upset the applecart of this year’s hot favorite Sharafiya Trading Zabin FC with a 3-0 win and retained the 20th SIFF-Rabea Tea Champions League title at the Hilal Sham Stadium near Khalid Bin Waleed Street here Friday. Banking on the individual brilliance of Mohammed Naufal, newcomer Makkah Indian FC rallied to outsmart Town Team Strikers 4-2 in a thrilling final and claimed the B Division honors. Before the finals, Al-Rayan Polyclinic and Al-Shareef Cargo drew goalless in a veterans final and CG XI, led by Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak, defeated  Jeddah Media Forum 1-0. The league championship, organized by Saudi Indian Football Forum, is mainly sponsored by Rabea Tea and supported by Al-Abeer Medical Group, Jeddah National Hospital, TSS Advertising, Fathima Food Stuff, Gamon Group, Kathir Rice, Al-Ryan Polyclinic and Sharafiya Trading. Chief Guest B.S. Mubarak, Rabea Tea Sales Manager Abdul Azeez and JNH Director V.P. Mohammed Ali presented the trophies. In a much anticipated A Division final, over confidence and tactical blunder of Sharafia Trading Zabin FC allowed champion TSS Real Kerala FC to run away with the match and the trophy. Sharafia Trading lost the match in the midfield. It not only bungled with its combination but also gave ample space in the middle to its rival which was efficiently used by Real Kerala. While Sharafiya Trading loaded its left flank with too many players and tried to attack mainly through left, Real Kerala used its wings intelligently to emerge champion. Sharafiya Trading, as usual began well and looked dominating for ten minutes. But once it conceded a goal against the run of play Real Kerala took over. The champion took the lead off a corner, nicely headed by Marzook. After Real Kerala goalkeeper Shoaib made a brilliant save from Ashiq Usman, he gained in confidence and looked like a man possessed and brought off a number of saves. And he was rightly awarded the Player of the Match prize. Zabin came back strongly in the second half and went all out for attack. But on a counter attack Mohammed Moad beat an onrushing keeper Salam to make it 2-0. The game soon turned rough and even led to a fight, which saw three red cards. Suhair of Zabin FC and Siraj and Marzook of Real Kerala were sent out. With 10 players against nine, Zabin even failed to take advantage and conceded one more goal through Jamshad. Town Team Strikers which had only local players gave a tough fight before losing to Makkah team which had a number of “imported” players. Sainul Abdin, Mohammed Naufal, Naseer Nalukandy and Saheer Ayamutty scored for Makkah FC and Shahid Ali scored both the goals for Town Team. Mohammed Naufal of Makkah was named the Player of the Match.