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Host Tata Steel XI won the Friendship Cup Football Tournament after a gap of eight years, trouncing Legislators XI 3-0 in the lop-sided final at Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar today. Saddam Abrar starred in the Tata Steel triumph, scoring a brace, while the other goal was netted by Mithun Chakrasoy.
Tata Steel XI won the title for the second time with their maiden one achieved in the year 2010. The annual tournament, featuring four teams, was first held in the year 2008. In the semifinals this year, Tata Steel beat defending champions Bureaucrats XI 1-0, while Legislators XI prevailed over Media XI 3-2.
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Leaders XI finished runners-up. Bureaucrats XI and Media XI were other two teams in fray. The all-important goal for Tata Steel was scored by Saddam Abrar. For Legislators XI, Arun Sahu and Prabhu Jain struck one goal each, while Bikash Marandi netted both the goals for Media XI, who lost the math due to a self goal.
Odisha Agriculture and Higher Education Minister Arun Kumar Sahu, Sports Minister Tusharkanti Behera, Higher Education Secretary Saswat Mishra, Steel & Mines Special Secretary S K Popli, senior journalists Rajaram Satpathy, Devi Patnaik, Tata Steel vice-president Arun Mishra, COO Subodh Pandey, General Manager R R Satapathy, CRE Debasis Jena and Corporate Service chief Manikanta Naik graced the prize distribution ceremony as guests.
Guests at the opening ceremony were: Finance & Excise Minister Niranjan Pujari, Forest & Environment Minister Bikram Keshari Arukha, School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash, Industries, Energy Minister Captain Dibya Shankar Mishra, Commerce and Transport Minister Padmanabha Behera, Khandapada MLA Soumya Ranjan Patnaik, Jatani MLA Sura Routray, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Rajesh Verma and Odisha Sports Journalists Association of Odisha president K Ravi.
INDIVIDUAL PRIZES: Men of the Matches: Bikash Marandi (Media XI), Ajaya Mohapatra (Bureaucrats XI), Mithun Chakrasoy (Tata Steel). Best forward: Saddam Abrar (Tata Steel XI); Best goalkeeper: Jagannath Naik (Legislators XI); Fair play: Saswat Mishra, (Bureaucrats XI); Higher scorer: Sadam Abrar (Tata Steel XI); Best defender: Dibyasankar Mishra (Legislators XI); Best mid-fielder: Arun Sahu (Legislators XI).
ROLL OF HONOUR (Read as Year, Champion, Runners-up, Final Score):
2019: Tata Steel XI beat Legislators XI 3-0
2018: Bureaucrats XI beat Tata Steel XI 1-0
2017: Bureaucrats XI beat Tata Steel XI 5-3 in tie-breaker
2016: Media XI beat Bureaucrats XI 6-3 in tie-breaker
2015: Bureaucrats XI beat Media XI 3-1 in tie-breaker
2014: Bureaucrats XI beat Tata Steel 3-2 in tie-breaker
2013: Bureaucrats XI beat Tata Steel 3-0
2012: Bureaucrats XI beat Tata Steel 4-2 in tie-breaker
2011: Bureaucrats XI beat Legislators XI 2-1.
2010: Legislators XI beat Bureaucrats XI 2-1
2009: Media XI beat Bureaucrats XI 3-2 in sudden death tie-breaker
2008: Tata Steel XI beat Legislators XI 2-0
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TOP: Players of Tata Steel XI with the winners trophy in Bhubaneswar on 28 July, 2019.
RIGHT: Players of Legislators XI with the runners-up trophy in Bhubaneswar on 28 July, 2019.
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