Pune FC Under-17s capped of a remarkable 2014-15 season winning multiple trophies while also finishing in a commendable fourth position in the PDFA Super Division League.
The youngsters who competed in six different competitions throughout the year emerged victorious in two competitions – the Administrator’s Challenge Cup in Chandigarh and the Kunal Pillay 9-a-side memorial in Pune – making history in the process.
While participating in three knock-out competitions under the aegis of the PDFA at the local level over the course of the season, the U17s also travelled outstation twice to play in All-India level tournaments to gain more exposure.
While five of the six competitions were open tournaments, Pune FC Under-17s began their season winning the All-India U17 Chandigarh Administrator’s Challenge Cup, the only Age-Specific tournament played in September 2014.
The victorious Pune FC U-17 team pose with the Administrator’s Cup Trophy in Chandigarh
One of the most prestigious U17 tournaments in the country, Pune FC U17’s won the Challenge Cup in style with a 100% record having logged five wins in as many games and conceded just one goal.
Thereafter, Pune FC U17s participated in the Guru Tegh Bahadur Tourney at the Range Hills Ground in December and began with a 1-0 upset win over Deccan Rovers ‘A’ followed by a 3-0 thrashing of Sky Hawks in the quarters. However, their run was cut short after a 0-1 loss to Indrayani FC in the semifinals.
The following month, Pune FC U17s travelled south to Chennai to participate in the All India Don Bosco Fr. McFerran Trophy. While majority of the squad comprised of U17 players, a few Pune FC Senior players joined up to add to the experience. However, despite coming from a goal down to equalise and dominate proceedings in the prequarters, Pune FC were unlucky to be knocked out via penalty shootout by AG’s Office RC.
Having been in action in the PDFA League, Pune FC U17’s then participated in their second competition at the local level – the Dehu Road Shelar Trophy in March. After a good start to the competition, the shootout jinx once again haunted Pune FC who were knocked out in the quarterfinals via tie-breaker after a goalless draw with eventual champions DSK Shivajians ‘A’.
Despite falling short on two occasions at the local level, Pune FC U17s eventually came out victorious in the Kunal Pillay Memorial 9-a-side tournament held at Wanowrie. Logging four successive wins, Pune FC U17’s clinched not only their second title of the season, but also their first-ever at the local level.
Meanwhile, in January 2015, Pune FC U17s had begun their campaign in the biggest competition of the season – the PDFA Super Division League. Through the course of the season, the youngsters surprised one and all by going on a record thirteen game unbeaten streak which included nine wins and four draws.
Their run finally ended in the last game of the season after a 0-3 loss to eventual winners DSK Shivajians ‘A’. Nonetheless, the U17s ended in the fourth place with 34 points, just one point behind third placed Pune FC Under-19s. Interestingly, the U17s also held their U19 counterparts to a 3-3 draw and achieved the result coming from two goals down.
Led by Coach Sujay Sharma, Pune FC U17s played a total of 30 competitive games this season and logged a staggering 21 victories with a win ratio of 70%, ten per cent more than the U19s, while losing just twice.
In these 30 games, they managed to find the back of the net 96 times at an average of over three goals per game while conceding just 18. While seventeen players contributed to these 96 goals, striker Aniket Jadhav top scored with 19 strikes as wingers Buanthanglun Samte (11) and Amos Lalnienga (10) along with local lad Abhishek Mhaske (10) also got into double figures.
In terms of appearances, a total of 31 players represented Pune FC U17s this season, and it was U15 promoted midfielder Omega Vanlalhruaitluanga who made the most appearances playing 26 times. He was followed by defender Asish Rai (23) who also started the most number of games for the U17s.
Despite winning two trophies this season, one of the biggest achievements for Pune FC U17s was supplying a number of players to represent Pune FC U19s in the U19 I-League. In fact, out of ten players who were registered in the squad for the U19 I-League and received the runners-up medal, six players - Iprotip Das, Prakash Sarkar, Sebastian Thangmuansang, Asish Rai, Tarif Akhand and Md Yasir - went on to start one or more games during the course of the campaign.
Moreover, Md. Yasir who scored three goals in the U19 I-League campaign also finished as the joint top scorer for Pune FC in the final phase.
GOALSCORERS 2014-15
