Dempo prove too strong for Dempo Juniors in Monsoon Football Premier League title clash

Panaji: Dempo Sports Club had little trouble sweeping aside the challenge of Dempo Juniors 6-1 to emerge champions in the inaugural U-20 Monsoon Football Premier League at Duler Stadium, Mapusa, on Sunday.Dempo SC were the favourites for the title after their impressive run since the start of the tournament and lived up to the top billing in the title clash. Vishal Chawan netted a brace for the winners, while Favio Martins, Pradip Kullu, Swavel Furtado and Murphy Fernandes scored a goal each.At the other end, Topan Minz scored the consolation goal for Dempo Juniors.Dempo were in unstoppable form scoring 20 goals in four matches.

Murphy and Vishal top-scored with six goals each, while Pradip was among the consistent performers.The juniors scored 12, with Ashon Vaz and Jonathan Silva giving a good account of themselves."I am very happy that both the teams made it to the final,” said coach Pradip Chopdekar. “The boys showed fantastic character and displayed good quality football. I am fortunate to have hardworking technical staff, always there for the betterment of the club.

The management too provided constant support.”Earlier for the third-place prize, Guardian Angel SC got the better of Sporting Clube de Goa 2-1 in the tiebreaker after being locked 1-1 at the end of regulation time.Organised by the Goa Football Association (GFA) in collaboration with Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam Social Welfare Trust, the Goa Monsoon Premier Football League aimed to put the focus back on youth, besides promoting monsoon tourism in the state through integrated cultural experiences.In this tournament, a maximum of six players, including a goalkeeper, were allowed on the field with the squad size being 10 players. Rolling substitutions were allowed during the two halves of 20 minutes each.The League is the brainchild of V.P.V. Yugka Murrthy, trustee of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and vice president (South India) of the Indo-Latin American Chamber of Commerce.“This (6-a-side) version of the game is loved a lot,” said Murrthy. “Look at cricket and how it has evolved: from long-drawn Test matches to ODI and now T20. People need more entertainment, quicker results. We organised this tournament for under-20 players because there is a need to focus on the youth.”Murrthy said the next edition of the tournament will have 32 teams, besides some foreign additions. “We already have about five inquiries from foreign clubs. Goa is the perfect venue for football,” he said.