Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 3: NGR thrashed Heroes Club in the inaugural tie of the 3rd Rajiv Gandhi Gold Cup Football Tournament being organized by All J&K Indira Gandhi People’s Association in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir Football Association (JKFA) and J&K Sports Council at Government Gandhi Memorial (GGM) Science College football ground here today.
During the inaugural match, NGR outplayed Heores Club by three goals to zero (3-0) and sailed into the next round of the tournament.
In the first half of the match, NGR’s Umar netted the first goal in the 24th minute and put a lead of one goal over its opponent team Heroes Club.
Just after the first goal, Kamal scored another goal in the 28th minute and brought the opponent team under extreme pressure.
In the 32nd minute, Umar again bounced back and netted the goal and the first half ended with 3-0 goals.
In the second half, players of Heroes Club tried their level best to clinch the match, but were looking dominated and thus lost the match by 3-0 goals. During the match, yellow cards were shown to Jeevan and Kamal in the 21st and 51st minutes.
In the second match of the day, Param Football Club registered a solitary goal win over Sainik Colony Football Club.
The lone goal was scored by Ishaan Verma of Param Club in the 10th minute of the first half, which the opponent team failed to equalize throughout the match and paved way for the Param Club to sail into the next round of the tournament.
The yellow cards were shown to Gourav and Romesh of Sainik Colony Club in the 7th and 29th minute and the red card was shown to Arun Nagial of Param Club in the 40th minute.
The matches were officiated by Hilal Ahmed, Vijay Kumar, Ramesh Kumar, Gagan Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Koushal Kumar and Shafi Ahmed.
Earlier, the tournament was declared open by Sports Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din in presence of Narinder Gupta, organizer of the tournament and president, All J&K Indira Gandhi People’s Association, Dr Nirmolak Singh, vice president, JKFA, Kuldeep Singh, district president, Sheikh Fazal, ex-secretary, Sports Council, Mohan Lal, other prominent persons and sports lovers.
While speaking, Taj Mohi-ud-Din said that the promotion of sports was important for the society and development of sports infrastructure has been flagged as an important component as it is the priority of Government, adding that various steps have been initiated in this regards.
In the tournament, as many as 20 teams from North zone, including the famed Churchill Brothers from Goa will be vying for the coveted trophy.
Narinder Gupta, president, All J&K Indira Gandhi People’s Association and Organizer of the tournament said that the event will feature 19 matches. The semifinal finals will be played on March 9 and the final match on March 10.
Meanwhile, in tomorrow’s fixture, Young Star will clash with PDC (B), Young Rovers will take on Mossa Football Club and Sainik Colony Football Club will lock horns with Vijay Club.