Tohid Iranian edge out Iranian School in final

Tohid Iranian School, the winner of the Samsung UAE inter-school soccer tournament at Al Nasr Club in Dubai. ©Gulf News

GulfNews - Tohid Iranian School overcame Adab Iranian School 4-2 in the final of the Samsung UAE Inter-school football championship, held at Al Nasr football stadium yesterday.

The tournament was contested by 24 schools and co-sponsored by Gulf News, Microsoft, Al Ain Diary, Florida Blue Bird, Nike Sun and Sports and Cadbury.

Tohid scored the first goal in the last minute of the first half through Yasir bin Sayed. However, one minute before the final whistle Sheikh Attar of Adab equalised.

In the extra time, both the teams could not score any goals, which lead to penalty shoot-out. In the penalty shootout, Reza Zamai, Nikan and Yasir bin Sayed scored for Tohid, but for Adab only Milad managed to find the target.

The final was marred by an overage controversy with Al Ittihad School, losers of the semifinals against Tohid, arriving at the ground, and demanded a replay as Tohid's goalkeeper was found to be over the age limit of 18 by eight days.

Tohid agreed for a penalty shoot out with a new goalkeeper. In the penalty shoot out, Al Ittihad lost again 5-4, but refused to leave the field, delaying the final by nearly two hours.

Earlier in the semifinals, Adab also had lost to Salman Al Farsi Private School in a penalty shoot out. Al Farsi School too had fielded five over age players.

"We organised this schools tournament for the first time and did not insist on giving passport copies for age identification. Next year no player without the passport copy will be allowed to play," said Umesh Shetty, Director of the event.

"The tournament was a big success and next year onwards we plan to host the event on a league basis and will be contested by over 40 schools," added Shetty.

Tohid School won 17 Samsung TFT Monitors Sync master worth Dh. 1,600 each, while runners-up Adab received Samsung MP3 player (yp.20T) worth Dh. 450 each.

Ali Al Ali of Al Ittihad received the highest goal-scorer award of DuD Combo worth Dh. 1,300. The Microsoft award for the youngest player went to Khalid Hyder of East Coast English School and the best winning team coach award to Ramezani of Tohid Iranian School.

The Florida Blue Bird best coach award was received by Gaby Elias of Al Mawakeb School. Milad Farajollah of Adab Iranian School received the Cadbury's best forward award.

The Sun and Sand Sports award went to Al Ittihad for finishing third and youngest team award to Emirates National School, Sharjah.