In the ongoing Milo Inter School Football Tournament 2018, the under 16 tournaments’ first round has being concluded. Here, Boalha.Mv takes a look at the story so far in to the tournament.

Since the age group draw was finalized and announced by Football Association of Maldives, it was believed that this year’s under 16 age category will be worth watching. And it was as it was expected. From the tournament opening match between two teams among the best and solid sides in the age group this year, the match of Ahamdhiyya International School and Imaduddin School outlined “the story of the tournament” that going to be seen as the tournament keeps going on. After a solid playing, the opening match ended as the goal less draw.

As seen in previous years too, Arabiyya School and Bilabong High International School was displayed as the least strong team during the first round as neither side was able to go beyond group stage. And Bilabong even forfeited their last group stage match to Imaduddin, while it was a game for Imaduddin who was hoping to fight for group top spot. Imaduddin was steps closer to their group mate, Amadhiyya, when the orange army side reached to their last game in group stage. Ahmadhiyya already played their last of the first round in the afternoon and scored 9 and Imaduddin’s last was to be played in the same day evening. The oranges were having the best plans to score and outnumber Ahmadhiyya in plus goal as both sides have same amount of points. But orange army side found out that Bilabong side unexpectedly forfeited the match as they were not present for the match. And Imaduddin was awarded free 2 points and 3 goals. And just three goals were not the number oranges were aiming to score in the match if it was played. And that free three goals were not enough for oranges to gain the group top when Ahmadhiyya ranked as the group winners in plus goals, 27 than 22 of Imaduddin.

As the tournament kept going on, the strongest sides were getting better with their games being played. And on the other hand, less strong sides were also getting better and adapting to the tournament much faster than expected. As there were two sides, that visited the tournament from Atolls. Kaafu Atoll School of K.Kaashidhoo and K.Guraidhoo School. In the previous year’s inter school campaigns, in different age groups, visiting teams from Atolls has really made their mark in the tournament History. As in the 2016 the side from Dh.Kudahuvadhoo played in the final of under 16 age group with an amazing and promising performances throughout the whole tournament and got to be the runner up. This year also it is the same story. But may be little less. The current runner up of under 16, Iskandharu School was put into real trouble when they were held on by the Kaafu Atoll School , K.Kaashidhoo side. Iskandharu reds was able to score only a single goal in that match and somehow won the match . And on the other hand, the other visiting team, K.Guraidhoo School boys in already in the top 8, in quarter finals. Guraidhoo boys won huge against Dharumavantha School. The story of Dharumavantha is also pretty interesting this year. It was seen that Dharumavantha royal blues were the last team to start preparation for the inter school this year. Dharumavantha has being a strong side in the previous years, but somehow they have not been able to keep up to their level of performances in this year.

The two teams from the other towns, the team from the  5^th town, Muhyiddin School from Villimale, the side from the  6^th, Ghaazee School from Hulhumale’. The 2015’s champions and the 2016’s semifinalists, Muhyiddin side was found among the bottom sides as they were not able to go further than group stage. Since 2014, when Muhyiddin was among the top 4 teams in the age group, which was for the first since they won their first under 16 title in 2010. And in the following year, 2015, they went to lift the title again. And in the next year, in 2016, the year Muhyiddin was the third best team of the year, they were knocked out at the last minute against Ghaazee who went to be the champions of 2016. Back then Muhyiddin was a strong name in the age group inter school. But it seems Muhyiddin also having a down curve in their inter school football.

On the other hand, the champions of 2016, Ghaazee School is in the quarter finals with an acceptable first round performance.

It is also displayed throughout the tournament that the teams with junior under 16 national team players in their squad has being performing better. It is expected to be that way as there is no doubt that those national team junior players will be sharing their experience and knowledge from the past international tournaments with their team mates and helping the team’s performances on the pitch in many ways. Some of them is leading the teams as the captains, and some of them as in leaders of the respective departments of the team on the pitch. Among the top 8 teams, it is believed that only two sides don’t have at least a single under 16 national team player. Guraidhoo side and Thaajuddin side. Imaduddin and Iskandharu squads has the most number of junior national team players.

The quarter finals fixtures have already been announced by Football Association of Maldives. The round next to be played, the fight of the top 8 will be more interesting than the group stage. There is no doubt in it.

Ahmadhiyya has to face Thaajuddin in first. Current runner up, Iskandharu has to face Dharumavantha. A match which will be filled with more actions as it has been like that in the previous times both side faced each other on the pitch. Ghaazee and Imaduddin match also will be exciting. The last will be between Majeedhiyya and Guraidhoo.

Let’s take a look at some of the amazing stats by teams regarding to their first round, group stage, performances.

There were 95 goals scored by 12 teams from 13 participating sides. Only Kaafu Atoll School, K.Kaashidhoo boys were not able to score a single goal. All other 12 teams have score at least one or more. Only one team was able to collect maximum points from games played, Iskandharu School. Who collected maximum points (9) from three games. There were best two teams, when it comes to conceding goals. Ahmadhiyya International School and Imaduddin School.  Both sides have kept an amazing record of 100% clean sheets during the group stage. Ahmadhiyya is the team to score most number of goals with total 27 goals. Imaduddin is the team to score second most number of goals with 22 in total. Ahmadhiyya and Imaduddin is the only two teams to reach double digit numbers in goals scored. Ghiyasuddin International School and Bilabong High Internaitonal School is the two teams with most number of goals conceded with -18 goals each.