MUPC Under-15 India-leg: Manipur's BMSC new champions

BMSC – Taobunghkhok of Manipur are the champions of the eighth edition of the Indian-leg of the Manchester United Premier Cup Under-15 tournament. In the final yesterday, they beat Mumbai FC 5-4 in a penalty shootout at the Duler ground in Mapusa, Goa.

Former India captain Baichung Bhutia and his current counterpart Sunil Chhetri were present on the occasion, with both playing an exhibition match with the youngsters of the participating teams.

The Birchandra Memorial Sporting Club of Manipur surprised all by lifting the MUPC trophy and making it to the Southeast Asia qualifiers in Malaysia next month to face teams from the host nation, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore, with the winner of that tournament getting a place at the global finals in Manchester this summer.

This year, the Indian-leg of the Manchester United Premier Cup Under-15 tournament was once more held with state qualifiers and then a North-East-Northeast Zone qualifiers played in Jamshedpur. while the South-West teams played their championship in Goa. While Chandigarh Football Academy won the Jamshedpur-leg, it was Air India who won in Goa.

In yesterday’s semifinals, the regional champions had been eliminated as Manipur’s BMSC won 1-0 against Air India, while Mumbai FC beat defending champions Chandigarh Football Academy 4-3 on penalties after the match had ended one-all.

Nike India’s annual MUPC tournament, that is held under the aegis of the All India Football Federation, has become a strong platform in India to unearth young football talent at the grass-root level and it enables young footballers to get an opportunity to represent India and compete at a global stage.