18:35 , ,
I-League outfit Mumbai FC hosted a successful fan-engaging tournament – the Independence Cup – at the Inorbit Mall in Malad on the 15th and 16th of August.
The primary objective of this competition was to scout for local talents from in-and-around the city as well as engage the fans and make them more interested in the beautiful game, as well as in the club.
The conditions were perfect for football with cloudy skies and some mild wind blowing. The tournament saw 32 local teams participating for a cash prize of Rs. 20,000 and goodies worth Rs. 50,000 from Ten Sports, the sports channel partner for the event.
The crowd witnessed a breezy start with Macabi Tel Aviv winning the first match of Round One 12 – 3.  The tournament also saw impressive performances from the likes of Androits, Millat FC, MYJ IC Extension and Boombastic.
The semifinalists included 4 of the aforementioned teams with Androits falling prey to Macabi in the quarters. Coincidentally, 3 of the 4 semifinalists were donning Yellow Jerseys, which matched the colours of Mumbai FC.
Mumbai FC players Ashutosh Mehta and Jayesh Rane also came to watch the teams play which inspired the players to perform well.
The final, which was witnessed by the Mumbai FC Head Coach Kahlid Jamil, saw MYJ IC Extension win the tournament by beating Macabi on penalties.
The winners were ecstatic and one of the players of MYJ IC said, “It is one of those rare opportunities where we can showcase our talent in front of Khalid Jamil, one of the top coaches in Indian Football. Winning the final against such a good team shows our qualities.”
Mumbai FC stood ninth among 13 teams in the I-League last season. The Club informed that they would continue conducting more community building activities such as the Independence Cup throughout the season and engage fans from across the city.