Once struggling to get into his school team, 15-year-old midfielder guides Dominic Savio to 2-1 win over St Mary's
When Bobby Rajan from St Dominic Savio High School (Andheri) went for U-16 school football team selections last year, the coach told him he wasn't good enough to claim a spot in the first team. Not one to give up easily, Rajan decided that he was not only going to make it to the team but also force his way into the starting XI the following year.
On Monday, the 15-year-old not only figured in the starting XI but also scored the winner for his newly-promoted side's 2-1 win over St Mary's ICSE (Mazgaon) in the MSSA U-16 Division I clash at the MSSA Grounds, Azad Maidan.
"I wanted to play for the school at least once," said the Class 10 student. "I've been playing football right from the Class 1, but I never really gave it that much importance. It was just when I wasn't selected last year that I decided to work hard to get into the team."
But after scoring in his debut match, Rajan wished he had started taking the sport more seriously. He said it would be great to play the sport for a living. "I was a book-worm. I was always in the top-three ranks. I gave my studies so much importance. But I've never had so much fun as I did from playing this one match. I definitely would want to become a professional footballer," said the midfielder.
"I used to play for fun in my church compound (St. Mary's, Andheri). My parents always encouraged me to play for school but studies were more important to me," said the ardent Lionel Messi fan.
St Dominic Savio HS took the lead in the 20th minute through a header by Glenn Lewis after a St Mary's defender made a mess of a clearance from a corner. Lewis found himself unmarked and nodded the ball home. But the team for Mazgaon weren't ready to give up yet. They equalised through a stunning goal. Mikail Kazi, unmarked just outside the box, volleyed the ball into the top left of the net. All that the goalkeeper could do was remove the ball from the back of the net.
With the game looking set for a draw, Dominic Savio were awarded a corner. Karan Kutty stepped up to take a corner and floated the ball at the face of the goal. Rajan jumped high and headed it towards goal. The goalkeeper managed to get a hand but that was not enough to stop the powerful header.
In the season's first match, Jamnabai Narsee, Juhu stunned runners-up Bombay Scottish, Mahim 1-0. Prajin Gandhi ran free from his marker and headed the ball into the left corner.
Stopwatch: St Dominic Savio HS (Andheri) 2 (G Lewis 20, B Rajan 46) bt St Mary's ICSE (Mazgaon) 1 (M Kazi 35); Jamnabai Narsee (Juhu) 1 (P Gandhi 42) bt Bombay Scottish (Mahim) 0
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