Colombo Zahira wins Dialog Trophy

M. L. M. Fazal best goal getter:

Bernard Perera

The all island invitation schools soccer tournament organised by Hameed Al Hussainie Group ‘80 ended in a grand scale with Zahira College carrying away the coveted Dialog Trophy beating De Mazenod College, Kandana six goals to one at Sugathadasa stadium yesterday.

The day belonged to Zahira’s playmaker M. N. M. Fazal. He was at his best yesterday scoring four goals for his side.

The teams got off to a start playing their best soccer available. This was properly proved when both teams failed to score for nearly twenty minutes. During this period Mazenodians missed two easy scoring opportunities. This was their set back in the early stage of the game.

It was M. N. Mohamed Fazal who banged in the first goal for Zahira when he baffled the goal keeper all ends up. This became a morale booster for his side and saw all giving the best support to Fazal.

Fazal scored his second goal just five minutes later. Zahira 2, Mazenod 0.

Zahirian skipper M. I. M. Zain and A. Najimulla combined well to get the third for their side, when latter made a good pass to Zain from which he made good use to find the net in the thirtieth minute. This ten minutes of play produced three quick goals.

The following ten minutes too saw the Colombo make merry, netting in three more goals. First it was Fazal and later Zain the skipper and once again Fazal, to make the score read in favour of Zahira 6-0. Fazal 4, Zain 2 and the teams returned for lemons.

Mazenodians who played extremely well during early games never performed their previous form in this session. This was the main set back here.

Teams returned to the field with Zahira’s morale running high.

Mazenodians changed their tactics and was seen going on the attack during this period.

Their efforts brought in good results just five minutes into the game with Marlon Buultjenz after collecting a ball midway made solo effort to get the goal for his side.

Sensing that they could reduce the lead they kept on pressure mounting on the Zahirians. Zahirians too made many good moves in a bid to swell the score but failed in their attempts due to poor finishing touches.

Mazenodians during this put up a gallant show to halt the goal hungry Zahirians. Though they got the solitary goal their opponents failed to add anything to the score.

Zahira players proved that they are a set of players who can control the ball well and their short and long range passes were excellent. This was the main factor why Mazenodians failed to have much of the possession. Their forwards dribbling too was done to perfection which the Kandana boys could not match at any stage of the game.

Mazenodian coach could have studied the game plan of Zahirians in the first half and given his set of boys to counter attack in a way to control the onslaught coming from the Colombo school. Their back division completely failed to put up a strong wall during the first half. This was remedied to a certain extent but was lacking shooting power.

The boys showed they are a talented lot but have to be guided properly to face finals of this nature on a different approach.

M. L. M. Fazal who scored four goals in the final and five in the previous games was adjudged as the Best goal scorer, to receive the special award.

M. R. M. Rizmi also of Zahira was declared as the Best goal keeper while M. R. M. Rizmy received the Man of the Tournament award on offer.

All in all top class soccer was displayed by all schools during the tournament.

A special bouquet should go to the organisers Hameed Al Husseinie Group of ‘80 for a well organised tournament though it was their first experience on a big venture of this nature.