**MANIPAL FOOTBALL PREMIER LEAGUE**

Reported By: Shivam Grover, Satyaki Bhattacharjee,.

Article By: Satyaki Bhattacharjee.

Photographs By: Sumit Thakur

Manipal football premier league or its shibboleth short form "MPL" is a perpetual football tournament held in S.M.I.T. It is held in the early stages of the even semesters. In this event, teams participate and compete against each other, but not just like another random football tournament of a college. The main motto behind this tournament is to bring about new emerging footballing talents and also to give an opportunity to the ones who hardly get to fit a leg in the field considering the college’s population to the number of football grounds ratio in SMIT.

The initiative of organizing mpl is taken every year by the third year students of SMIT.

This year eight teams were created and counsel by 3rd year player managers namely – Chiranjeev, Diwaker, Keshav, Prakhar, Sanket, Kshitij, Rituraj and Kaushik. They were all provided by a fixed decided simulation money. Using which they had to buy players for their teams. And it was made mandatory that each team captain/manager shall buy players maintaining the criteria of limited equal money provided per captain.

All the managers served their teams being player managers. Except Prakhar, reason being his injury. Each teams comprised of three divisions. Division A, B And C.

Division A were the most experienced players who would expertise their game on a regular basis throughout the year.

The price for division A players were 1000 units and above.

Division B were semi experienced players who although being considered good players, did not have a regular practice of the game.

The price for division B players were 800 units and above.

Division C players consisted of the players who have the least experience in playing the game amongst the entire lot. It comprises of players who have always wanted to play the game but never got the opportunity to.

The price for division C players were 300 units and above.

The criteria were such that each team can play 2 A grade players, 3 B grade players and 3 or more C grade players in a game. The goalkeepers were not classified as any grades. Each team could play 9 players at a go, along with 3 substitutions which could be made inside the game time.

Each game comprised of two halves of 15 minutes each. Two games were played per evening after 8 pm till 9:45 pm.

But for the most deciding games like the 5^th position match, the semifinals and the final. Each half comprised of 25 minutes.

sno.	team name	played	won	lost	drawn	GF	GA	GD	points
1	Chiranjeev	3	3	0	0	5	1	4	9
2	Diwaker	3	2	1	0	4	3	1	6
3	Keshav	3	0	2	1	1	3	-2	1
4	Prakhar	3	0	2	1	0	3	-2	1

5    Sanket	3	2	0	1	4	2	2	7
6    Kshitij	3	2	1	0	3	2	1	6
7    Rituraj	3	1	1	1	2	2	0	4
8   Kaushik	3	0	3	0	2	5	-3	0

Semi final 1 was Diwaker VS Sanket

Where in an extremely tight competition, Sanket’s team managed to defeat Diwaker’s team by 1 goal.

Semifinal 2 was between Kshitij vs Chiranjeev.

Chiranjeev’s team out numbered the opponent with a magnificent 5-1 Knockout.

Pratik of 1^st year turned out to be a rising star in this match, as he proved himself by scoring a flawless hattrick.

He also turned out to be the top scorer of the entire tournament. Fixing 5 goals to his name..

The fifth place match was won by Keshav’s team against Rituraj’s team.

And the third place match was won by Diwaker’s team against Kshitij’s team.

The final was thereby played between Chiranjeev and Sanket’s teams respectively.

Where, after an excruciating competition and unstoppable skill display, Sanket’s team managed to triumph 1-0.

The statistics approved of Sanket to be the Best defender of the tournament and Harshad to be the emerging star goalkeeper of SMIT, who although never goalkeeped before showcased and improvised great skills and dedication throughout the tournament.

This tournament shook up a different level of passion amongst many. It showed, as players with injuries refused to leave the field and give up.

The heated temperament, the dedication and the relentless effort that was brought about by the ignited passion amongst was indeed inspiring to watch.

The dawn of this tournament led to disappointments amongst the hearts of all the players since they mesmerized for more action.

And their wishes might as well come true since a strong rumor says that MPL 2 of the year 2015 is going to be held pretty soon.

So keeping our expectations high and our love for this marvelous sport ignited, we all look forward to the greatly awaited, MPL 2!