DAMMAM — Machino and RTS emerged champions in the juniors and seniors plus parents categories, respectively, of the Dammam Soccer Academy (DSA) season 3 in-house tournament at Al-Gosaibi football ground in Al-Khobar recently.

This four-week-long tournament was conducted with the support of main sponsor Ahmad Hamad Al-Gosaibi & Bros.

The players and parents were grouped into four teams in two categories. The four

teams were named after DSA associate sponsors Machino, Hamco, RTS and FL Cargo. The two categories were juniors and seniors plus parents.

After the preliminary league matches, the first and second placed teams Machino and Hamco in juniors and RTS and Machino in seniors earned their berths in the finals.

In the juniors’ final, Machino subdued a strong Hamco 4–2. For Machino, Ayaan and Roshan scored 2 goals each and Fawzaan and Hareesh one apiece for Hamco.

In the seniors plus parents final, RTS and Machino drew 1–1 in the regulation time. Shaikh Riyas put machine ahead, while Adil Shaju equalized for RTS.

In the penalty shootout, RTS players kept their nerve to score 3 out of 5 shots through Aditya, Ashwin and Rehaz, while Machino could convert only 2 through Abdul Samad and Aadish. And, RTS emerged winner at 4-3 in a thrilling finale.

Award ceremony began with the distribution of certificates to the third and fourth placed teams followed by medals to the runner-up and winners in each category.

Top scorer trophy in juniors went to Ayaan for his 8 goals and the best player trophy to Roshan.

Top scorer trophy in seniors was shared by parent Binu and trainee Rehaz, since both scored four goals apiece. Best player in seniors went to parent Ajai and trainee Aditya JK.

Parents and DSA ECs — chief coach Mansoor, former DSA president Naushad, assistant coach Yasheen and DSA President Aslam — took turns to give away the awards.

Junior trainee Jivin Shano bagged a special prize for Fair Play and it was presented by DSA EC Zuhail.

Ameer and Saleem anchored the award ceremony. DSA executive members Naushad, Aslam, Mansoor, Favaz, Yasheen, Zuhail, Thanveer, Saleem, Ramiz, Shazim, Rasil, Sajir, Ameer, Saleem and DSA foreign coach Hasan Hadiya who officiated league round senior matches all ensured a swift and smooth culmination of the nearly one-month-long tournament before the children head for annual exams.

The exciting finale ended with the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and India led by the trainees. — SG