Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — True to their name, talent was aplenty — budding and maturing — and there was Brazilian touch. And Talent Brazilian Academy proved their prowess by bagging two trophies out of four from the fifth JSC-YSL-2018 Football Tournament at Al-Rawda Stadium here recently.
After their Under-10 boys won a battle of talent by beating an equally promising Spanish Academy 2-0 in the final, their seniors (Under-18) fought gallantly with ten players from the fourth minute to get the better of a tough Guinnene French School by an identical score on mere talent to complete a double.
Hosts JSC-ISM made themselves proud by claiming the Under-15 crown by downing Tiger Al-Sika Academy 5-0, while Golden Boys Academy denied hosts a double by edging them 1-0.
The YSL-2018 was sponsored by Jotun, Mobil 1, Sedco, Tamer, EFS Logistics, Sun Cola, Al-Abeer Group, Trans Freight, Nikai, Spash and Trident Hotel.
The Under-10 final was a treat to watch on the concluding day of this one-month long tournament. Brazilian as well as Spanish academies had a host of budding talents. If Brazilians boast of possession football, Spaniards dazzle with one-touch “tiki-taka” soccer. Both were evident among these tiny tots. With one-touch passes, amazing control and even sliding tackles the boys thrilled the spectators.
However, the battle went in Brazilians favor as they had a brilliant emerging star Nabeel Arif. This Player of the Match wizard, scored from a classy free kick and a stunning individual effort. And that was the difference between the two sides.
Later when the spotlight was fixed on the so-called mega final, Guinnene officials were more bothered about the eligibility of the rival players, while the Talent officials, who also had the same complaint remained silent, and prepared for the battle.
As the highly-tensed match had passed just four minutes, Talent’s defender Waseem saw the red and they had to play with ten players which they did magnificently. It was a real battle for supremacy between Saudi and African soccer.
The senior boys of both the teams showcased lot of talented maturing players for the future. The Brazilians held on with their careful possession against the marauding and powerful Guinnene boys.
Brazilian Academy took the upper hand in the 20th minute. Ahmed Fuad produced a beauty from a freekick, beating the rival wall and curving the ball into the goal — a leaf from soccer great Messi’s collections.
That was the tonic they needed against the favorites.
Guinnene boys pressed hard till the end and when they went for an all out last-ditch attack they lost possession and the rivals counter attacked superbly to finish with a canter to emerge 2-0 winners. Faisal completed the tally.
Here too the difference was a skillful Player of the Match Ali Saleh of Talent Acadmey who wielded the baton.
In Under-13 final, Golden Boys Academy defeated JSC-ISM Academy by a goal scored by Player of the Match Ali Halawi.
However, the hosts also did not go empty-handed. It crushed Tiger Al-Sika Academy 5-0 in the only one-sided final of the day. Ahmed Saleh, Basil, Abdul Hameed (2) and FAris Idris were the scorers. Abdul Hameed was adjudged the Player of the Match.
During the awarding ceremony, JSC President Jaffer Ahmed made the welcome speech. Guests who graced the final and presented the trophies were Nawaf Malfi Al-Sheri (Jeddah Sports Council president), Captain Al-Turkey Al-Muthairy, Abdullah Al-Dossary (Jeddah Club coach), Sayed Masood Ahmed (IISJ Principal), V.P. Mohammed Ali (JNH MD), Hamsa (Doka managing director), Abdul Rahim Ismail (former IISJ chairman), C.O.T. Azeez and Mayinkutty from Malyalam News, K.T.A. Muneer (OICC), K. Rauf (Navodaya), C.K. Sakir (KMCC) and Mathew (Al-Wadi School).
The tournament committee, led by Samir Kannur, was consisted of T.P. Basheer, Basheer EFS, Fayaz Ibrahim, Praveen Padman, Adv. Ashraf E.V., Naushad Arackal, E.V. Ashraf, Anwar M.P., Ashfaq, Sreejith Bhaskaran, Haris K.E., Jazim Haris, Ashfar, Saheer, Jomon, Ubaid, Kareem Thommil, Naser, Naseer Subaan, Ajith and Anwar Vallanchira.
Saadik Edakkad proposed a vote of thanks.
