Godfrey all praise for Veterans League champs MYJ

Former India vice-captain Pereira hails team spirit as Mighty Young Joe remain unbeaten en route to winning Mumbai Football Association-organised Veterans League

Former India vice-captain Godfrey Pereira was all praise for his teammates as MYJ (Mighty Young Joe) won the second edition of the Mumbai Football Association-organised Veterans League at the Neville D’Souza ground, Bandra, on Sunday. MYJ beat a spirited Kerala Veterans 1-0 in the summit clash.

“MYJ are a great team and playing for them with their good mix of younger players was a great experience. There was a good, friendly vibe throughout and that’s the secret to this team’s success,” Pereira told mid-day.com.

The stylish midfielder appreciated the MFA’s effort too. “The Veterans League was a well-organised tournament with teams coming in from Kerala and Dubai. It attracted players from all across the country too, from places like Goa, Delhi and Gujarat. It was great to play alongside some of my colleagues from the past and to see so much old talent still going strong,” added Pereira, 52, who was voted the best player of the inaugural edition of the National Football League in 1996-97.

Malad-based MYJ remained unbeaten throughout the tournament, scoring 16 goals in eight matches. 
Trilok Singh scored the all-important title-winning goal in the second half of a keenly contested final. He later aptly picked up the award for Best Midfielder.

MYJ custodian Sanjeev Verma had a busy final and was required to make some timely saves against outstation outfit Kerala Veterans. He was up to the task though, not just in this match, but throughout the tournament and rightly received the award for Best Goalkeeper.

MYJ received the winner’s trophy and a cash award of Rs 50,000 from chief guest Hamid Sharifi, Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Kerala Veterans were awarded the runner-up trophy and a cash prize of Rs 30,000.

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