Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The three-month-long 4th Nadec-Blue Star Soccerfest 2018 ended successfully with a jam-packed Hilal Shyam Stadium on Khaled Bin Waleed Street witnessing three thrilling finals here. Two titles were decided after shootouts and the third one, the big one, was a classy affair.
Finally when the dust settled down, Sharafiya Trading Zabin FC and Sporting United underlined their supremacy in the championship celebrating hat trick title wins in the Super League and Under-17 sections, respectively.
Whereas Qurban ACC FC, which had crowned itself super league champion in the inaugural championship three years ago, proved once again that they are still a force in Jeddah expatriates soccer by claiming the Second Division championship this time.
In between, one individual, Saleem P.R., a former star player from Kerala who had enlivened expatriates’ soccer in Jeddah and turned to coaching after a career-threatening injury, earned a unique honor of being the successful coach in Blue Star Soccerfest. Saleem was the coach of ACC in the inaugural year and then led Zabin FC to a hat trick of titles.
Zabin FC settled a score with Blasters in the Super League final. Blasters, who had beaten Zabin 4-2 in the league stage, were outplayed by Zabin, subduing them to a 3-0 shutout to emerge worthy champion.
Both the finalists had strengthened their teams with outstation players. But the champion side, studded with Kerala State player Afdal, Annamalai University star Sudheesh, Malappuram district player Sanooj and Aslam Kondotty proved too good for Blasters stars Calicut University and Kerala Electricity Board player Jamsheer, Tamil Nadu State fame Jagesh and Malappuram stars Jasheer and Abdullah Hasan. However, the difference between the two sides was Zabin’s talented Afdal who walked away with the Player of the Match award. Afdal got wonderful support from Zabin’s skipper Taufeeq who combined with him nicely.
The match began at a furious pace and Zabin never allowed Blasters to settle down — almost throughout. Cool but fast-moving Afdal lit the stadium with a lightning move from left and back-heeled the ball on the top of the box for an alert Taufeeq who unleashed a thundering shot into the goal. With 1-0 lead Zabin ruled and it almost bagged the trophy with another brilliant work from Afdal. Dancing his way again from left he suddenly took a booming shot from outside the box and the ball diagonally landed in the cage.
Though Blasters could not open the scoresheet they made it a fight in the second half but again they could not have a clear look at the goal. To wrap things up captain Taufeeq fed Sudheesh and completed the tally for the winner.
The Second Division final saw ACC and United Sports Club putting everything into the game. It was more tense than the Super League final. However, United stars will rue missing chances. They created a lot of chances in the beginning including a penalty. Mohammed Shafi did everything but failed to score.
At the other end, ACC maintained their composure and fought spiritedly and was not ready to leave an inch to its rival.
Both the goalkeepers — Mohammed Irshad of ACC and Ismail of United — were at their best. However, Mohammed Irshad claimed the Player of the Match award. After a barren regulation time the shootout ended 4-2 in favor of ACC.
The Under-17 final was a beauty. The boys utilized the stage offered to them to exhibit their talent. They even taught a lesson or two to their seniors showing how to play XI’s soccer. Utilizing the width and length of the field nicely they dished out an excellent game.
Both the teams have a good number of promising boys, inviting bright future. Soccer Freakz which had won the Under-13 title here one week before could not make it a double but they stretched champions to the maximum.
After sharing four goals they resorted to tie-breaker for a result. Sporting held the upperhand but a never-say-die Freakz rallied. When Mohammed Dilshad put Sporting ahead Minhaj Rahman equalized for Freakz. Toward the end Jasim Shinas’s freekick almost handed trophy to Sporting. Then, skipper Rohit Rajan tied the score from the spot. In the fortune-fluctuating shootout Sporting players held their nerves better and prevailed. Their goalkeeper Afsal Basheer was adjudged the Player of the Match.
Asalm Kondotty of Zabin was declared as the Player of the Tournament. The topscorer’s award was shared by Sanooj, Taufeeq and Aslam of Zabin. Jasim Shinas of Sporting and Nihal Abdul Azeez of Freakz bagged the top scorer’s trophies in the Under-17 and Under-13 sections, respectively.
Blue Star acting president Yahya chaired the awarding ceremony. Chief guest JNH Chairman V.P. Mohammed Ali, SIFF President Baby Neelambra and secretary Shabber presented the trophies and awards. Sherief Parappan proposed a vote of thanks.
Blue Star Club, which is deeply involved in lot of charity work, collected nearly 400,000 Indian rupees from spectators, players and guests as donation and distributed it to the ailing patients in Kerala State.
This tournament was mainly sponsored by Nadec.
