BAPS Charities organised its national annual 5-a-side football tournament for youths, the Yagnapurush Cup, on Saturday 13 June 2015 at Mill Hill Power League, London.
18 teams and more than 100 participants from local communities across the UK joined together with enthusiasm and healthy competitiveness for an event that provided enjoyment and fostered tremendous community spirit throughout.
The tournament began with entertaining matches in the group stages. The top two teams from each group progressed to the quarter-finals of the Yagnapurush Cup. The third-placed team from each group qualified for the Pragji Cup semi-finals.
South London A were involved in the pick of the Yagnapurush Cup quarter-final matches where they reversed last year’s semi-final defeat to Southend-on-Sea by clinching victory in a very close game that was settled by a penalty shootout. In the other ties, Leicester A comfortably beat their compatriots Leicester B, while Finchley and Harrow-Brent A progressed safely past Coventry and BAPS Maintenance, respectively.
Two closely fought matches were played out in the semi-finals of the Pragji Cup. Harrow-Brent B defeated Preston 2-1 and South East London overcame MK Dons in a five-goal thriller. Last year’s champions Harrow A edged past South London A in the first semi-final of the Yagnapurush Cup. Leicester A defeated Finchley 2-0 in the other.
The final of the Pragji Cup brought together the previous year’s winners Brent B and South East London A. The north Londoners were eager to defend their title against their determined opponents who wanted to add their name to the list of winners. Brent B’s experience at this stage of the competition ultimately proved crucial in helping them retain the cup with a 2-0 victory.
The final of the much-coveted Yagnapurush Cup was contested between the holders Harrow-Brent A and Leicester A. Harrow-Brent A scored first before a late Leicester A equaliser heralded extra time. Leicester A scored twice in extra time to end a thrilling and competitive game, and be crowned the champions of the Yagnapurush Cup.
The event concluded with individual and team award presentations as detailed below:
|
Trophy |
Awardee |
|
Yagnapurush Cup Winners |
Leicester A |
|
Yagnapurush Cup Runners-Up |
Harrow-Brent A |
|
Yagnapurush Cup Golden Boot |
Hari Patel (Leicester A) |
|
Yagnapurush Cup Best Goalkeeper |
Bhavin Patel (South London A) |
|
Trophy |
Awardee |
|
Pragji Cup Winners |
Brent B |
|
Pragji Cup Runners-Up |
South East London |
|
Pragji Cup Golden Boot |
Kamlesh Ladwa (Harrow-Brent B) |
|
Pragji Cup Best Goalkeeper |
Hamanshu Patel (Harrow-Brent B) Mitesh Kara (Preston) |
