JEDDAH — With 50+ matches played over 3 days, IISJAA successfully held a 5-a-side football tournament — Fast and Furious Football Tournament. 14 teams vied in the 20-minute per match was played at the Manarat School Grounds. Teams were drawn into two groups. 9T9, Alumni United, Beardos FC, Desi Starz, FC Brotherz, FC Gormint and FC Spartans competed in Group A while Athletic Alliance, Catalonia, FC Brotherz-B, FC Frndz 03, Five Guys FC, Jeddah United and Shababs United battled it out in Group B.

The players comprised of International Indian School Jeddah Alumni from the varied batches (from the 90s to the 2017 batch). The tournament’s group stages kicked off on March 15. The group battles were a fierce as the top 4 would move to the knockout stages leaving the last 3 behind.

Great goals, fascinating saves and stout defending skills were clearly seen on both days (March 15-16). With only 50-60 mins gap between each game, the teams’ strength, stamina and skills were tested with each team playing out their 6 group stages games.

The first quarterfinal between FC Spartans and Five Guys FC ended with the Spartans winning 2-0. The second quarterfinal between FC Brotherz & Athletic Alliance saw the young squad making it into the semis by beating FC Brotherz 2-0.

FC Gormint caused a brief flutter against Jeddah United in the 3rd quarterfinal by drawing 1-1 and taking the game to penalties. Goalkeeper Basheer Zubair of Jeddah United saved 2 penalties to take his team to the next stage. The last quarterfinal between Catalonia and Beardos FC ended with Catalonia winning with a last-gasp Syed Atif strike.

The first semifinals pitted keen rivals Catalonia against FC Spartans with the latter beginning strongly with usual high ball possession and kept attacking until a free kick from Catalonia’s Saif beat the Spartans wall as well as the experienced goalkeeper Nadir Hameed to make it 1-0. A defensive lapse in the last stages led to a penalty for Spartans but Khaled Naser miss proved costly as the rebound from the post led to an immediate counter attack by Syed Atif who scored to make it 2-0. Spartans got one goal back through Saeed Naser as a cpnsolation.

In the Jeddah United and Athletic Alliance tie, Alliance led with a fast strike from Omar and then stood very firm with Suhail Ansari managing the defense thwarting United’s strong and fast attacks. Alliance’s Omar, Yousuf, Hassan Siddiqui and Shoaib delighted and cashed in on a United defensive lapse to add another goal through Shoaib to make their first IISJAA final. United scored a consolation goal to make the final score 2-1.

In the 3rd place game, FC Spartans faced a determined Jeddah United squad (Saeed, Fazil, Rafeel, Mudassir and Rahul). However with the likes of Khaled Naser, Waleed Naser, Umar Mukhtar, Nawaf Yusuf and Hashim Ahmed, Spartans were sure of winning this one with Saeed Naser scoring a brace in the 2-0 scoreline.

Catalonia began as favorites against Athletic Alliance, who played a game defense. With attacks foundering, Catalonia captain Olyan Basith made key changes and scored the winning goal for his team’s first IISJAA Glory. Syed Alaa provided the assist.

The final ceremony was conducted by the ExCom team hosted by Nadir Hameed in the presence of the IISJAA school coordinator and head of IISJ Open School, Mohammad Imran. Suhail Mehdi, president of the ExCom team, praised all the participating teams in maintaining the time as well as the spirit of the tournament.

Team as well as individual prizes were distributed at the ceremony by Mohammad Imran, Suhail Mehdi, F&F Lead excom members Ameenuzzaman, Nadir Hameed and Vice President Syed Maqdoom. The whole F&F Football Tournament was organized by the IISJAA Male Executive Committee, which also included Zubair Siddiqui, Nabeel Shaikh and Muzammil Hashmi.

Team awards:

Best Kit: Alumni United & FC Gormint; Fair Play: 9T9 & Beardos FC; Winners: Catalonia; Runners Up: Athletic Alliance; 2nd Runners up: FC Spartans; Consolation 4th Place: Jeddah United

Individual Awards:

Golden Glove: Nadir Hameed – FC Spartans 8 clean sheets in 9 games; Top Scorers: Golden Boot (Leader) - Saeed Naser – FC Spartans - 11 goals; Golden Boot (Challenger) - Mazin Mohammed Five Guys FC - 10 Goals; Best Player of the Tournament - Hashim Ahmed – FC Spartans. — SG