Champions Training Centre (CTC) were made to work hard by a determined Central Railway before pulling off a fighting 4-3 win in an intriguing and tense Super Division finals of the Mumbai Hockey League 2022-2023, jointly organized by Hockey Mumbai City and Hockey Mumbai Suburbs, and played at the Don Bosco High School Hockey Turf, Matunga on Sunday evening.
The triumphant CTC players proudly pose with the ‘Mumbai Super Division’ Trophy along with Chief Guest, Sachin Ahir, President, Hockey Mumbai District.
Akshay Avhad, Devinder Walmiki, Tejas Chavan and Talib Shah who scored a late decisive winner ensured CTC’s triumph. Central Railway who put up a solid fighting performance scored through Pankaj Singh, Mohammad Nizamuddin, and Irshad Mirza.
In a match of fluctuating fortunes, CTC took the lead through Akshay Avhad’s deflection off Devindar Walmiki’s angular reverse in the 13th minute. Central Railway turned things around as they scored twice in the second quarter with Pankaj Singh scoring the first from a field effort in the 21st minute and nine minutes later Mohammed Nizamuddin getting a deflection from a penalty corner to take a 2-1 lead at the interval.
In the third quarter, CTC showed more intent and forced a couple of penalty corners and Walmiki was fortunate to find his not-too-powerful attempt sneak through the pads of Central Railway goalkeeper Mujahid Khan in the 35th minute. Six Minutes later Chavan scored from a well-organised move to put CTC in front 3-2.
Central Railway once again fought back from a snap counter managed to score the equaliser through Irshad Mirza in the 56th minute and the match poised for an interesting final minute. CTC forced the pace and earned a penalty stroke as a Central Railway defender had stopped the ball with his foot on the goalline. Shah made no mistake sending the Central Railway goalkeeper Jivan Shinde the wrong way and trigger celebrations in the CTC camp.
Central Railway earned a couple on penalty corners in the remaining period but failed to convert and had to settle for second best.
Chief Guest, Sachin Ahir, President, Hockey Mumbai District, presented CTC with the ‘Champions’ Trophy and a cheque of Rs one lakh and handed the Central Railway players with the Runners-up Trophy and a cheque of Rs 50,000.
Result – Final: CTC 4 (Akshay Avhad, Devinder Walmiki, Tejas Chavan, Talib Shah) beat Central Railway 3 (Pankaj Singh, Mohammad Nizamuddin, Irshad Mirza).
Individual awards: Best Goalkeeper: Jivan Shinde (Central Railway).
Best Forward: Rajin Kandulna (Western Railway).
Best Midfielder: Raees MUjawar (Central Railway).
Best Defender: Akshay Avhad (CTC).
Player of the Final: Devinder Walmiki (CTC).
Player of the Final: Affan Yousuf (CTC).
Highest Goal-scorer: Iktidar Ishrat (Mumbai Customs).