MARGAO
Ananthapur Sports Academy emerged winners of the Legacy Cup 2022 all-India inter-academy girls under-16 football Championship, defeating Compassion Football Academy from Goa by a solitary goal scored by Nandini Vyasapuram.
The Legacy Cup was organised by the Karuna Football Foundation as part of the many legacy initiatives taken up by the foundation as part of the FIFA Women's Under-17 World Cup 2022 underway in India.
Ananthapur had to win the match outright as the Compassion girls had a superior goal average before the final match of the tournament that was played in a round robin league format. The Goan girls earlier had defeated their opponents in early August by an identical margin in the Inspire Cup tournament played in Andhra Pradesh. The Spodeia Sports Academy from Maharashtra stood third and the Life Sports Academy from Tamil Nadu finished fourth in the championship.
The tournament was organised in collaboration with the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) Goa, supported by the Pioneer Sports Academy, Dubai, Sesa Football Academy, Goa, and Replay It Sports. The foundation organised the three-day event to promote the culture of the global game among the underprivileged and marginalised girls in India for which the Karuna Football Foundation has been striving.
Savio Madeira, AIFF head of coach education was the chief guest for the final match and was very appreciative of the initiative taken up by the foundation. Former India internationals Franky Baretto and Ritinha Pereira were present along with Leonard Fernandes, CEO of Pioneer Sports Academy, Dubai and they presented the trophies.
The Golden Boot award was shared by Fatima Braganza of Compassion FA and Nandini of Ananthapur, while the Golden Glove trophy was won by Riya Rajesh of Compassion FA while Chandana of Ananthapur was declared the Best player of the tournament.
