The first Mamen Inter School U-15 Football Championship has been won by Hiriya School against all odds.

The final was played last night against defending champions Imaduddin School. Looking into both teams before the final, Imaduddin, The defending champions of the last Milo Inter School Football Championship held last year finished second in group D with 6 points with wins against Ghaazee and Iskandhar. Faced Majeedhiyya in quarter finals and made a comeback in the last tenth of the game making it three goals a side forcing the game into penalties which they won 4-3. This was followed by another spot kick show off in the semi-finals against Ghaazee after the full time ended in 1-1. The orange army won the penalty shootout 5-4.

Looking at the strong Hiriya side, they went into quarter finals with only one goal conceded and scoring 20 goals in the 3 group B matches. With all 9 points Hiriya was the group topper and defeated Thaajuddin easily in the quarters scoring 5 goals and conceding none. The semi-final that followed was won by 3-1 as they progressed into the finals.

The first half began and both teams went head to head from the beginning itself. However in the 11^th minute Mohamed Adhyan Niyaz converted from the spot as Hiriya took the lead. However eight minutes later a freekick given to Imaduddin was sent into the area. After a bounce, in the area the ball dropped to Mohamed Naaish Asjad who with a chip over the incoming keeper scored the goal that levelled things for the orange army. However, in the last minute of the first half, Hiriya’s star striker Ismail Ikan Bin Ali struck a beautiful half volley facing away from the goal, which ended up in Imaduddin’s net restoring Hiriya’s lead as they headed into half time. But, in the last minute of stoppage time Mohamed Naaish Asjad levelled matters again for Imaduddin.

After the dressing room talks a much more dominant Hiriya side came into display in the second half. Striking three minutes into the second half Mohamed Adhyan Niyaz restores advantage for Hiriya. That goal was followed by Ismail Ikan Bin Ali’s second goal of the game in the 44^th minute. The match winner was also scored by the same player six minutes later.

A win to be written in the history as the first Mamen Inter School Football title is won by Hiriya after defeating the former champions of the Milo sponsored tournament held last year. The dominant Hiriya side ended the tournament conceding the least goals (4) and scoring the most (33) with Ismail Ikan Bin Ali scoring 13 of them and ending the tournament as the topscorer.

Top 10 Players

Ismail Ikan Bin Ali (Hiriya School)

Mohamed Eakaan Matheen (Imaduddin School)

Hassan Azoom Ali (Ghaazee School)

Mohamed Dhaif Shamoon (Rehendhi School)

Aiham Hamdhoon (Hiriya School)

Ahmed Eeras (Ghaazee School)

Humaid Hussain (Majeedhiyya School)

Mirfah Abdul Muhusin (Hiriya School)

Mohamed Abaan Areef (Aminiya School)

Ahmed Maish Mohamed (Majeedhiyya School)

That rounds up an exciting U-15 tournament which held a lot of surprises this year. Many teams labelled as favourites were knocked out of the group stage including Jamaluddin, Iskandhar, Muhyiddin and Ahmadhiyya. The quarters were also equally exciting as top favourites Majeedhiyya was knocked out by this year’s runner-up Imaduddin. And amazing performances by Rehendhi, Hiriya and Ghaazee saw them through to the semis. Another title favourite Ghaazee was knocked out as well by the orange army in the semis and Rehendhi’s title chase was cut short by eventual winners of the tournament Hiriya.

Many new stars seen in the tournament and the equally exciting U-18 tournament has started and there have been stunning results already in that age group. Stay tuned to Boalha.mv for exclusive coverage of the tournament.

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