Kerala scripts football glory, wins Subroto Mukerjee U-17 trophy after 64 years
Kochi: Kerala etched its name in golden letters in school football history on Thursday, ending a 64-year-long wait to claim the prestigious Subroto Mukerjee International Football Tournament U-17 boys’ crown.
Represented by Farook Higher Secondary School, Kozhikode, the team defeated Amenity Public School, Uttarakhand, 2-0 in a thrilling final at New Delhi.
This triumph marks Kerala’s first-ever Subroto title, a milestone the state had been chasing for decades. Malappuram’s MSP Academy had twice come agonizingly close, finishing runners-up in 2012 and 2014, losing to powerhouse sides from Ukraine and Brazil.
In Thursday’s high-stakes clash, Kerala seized the initiative early. John Cena Takhellamba broke the deadlock in the 20th minute with a superbly taken goal, displaying remarkable composure under pressure.
The lead doubled in the 60th minute when Aadi Krishna struck with precision, sealing the fate of the match and sparking jubilant celebrations.
“This victory is the result of two months of intense preparation. I’m proud of the boys’ commitment and discipline,” said coach VP Suneer, elder brother of Indian Super League forward VP Suhair.
Notably, the squad, which includes four players from the Northeast, trains under Gokulam Kerala FC’s academy and regularly plays with the club’s U-18 side—an edge that helped them withstand physically tougher opponents.
Kerala’s campaign was nothing short of dominant. They topped their group with wins over Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Meghalaya, before overcoming Lakshadweep 2-0 in the quarterfinals and edging Mizoram 1-0 in the semis.
Across the tournament, they netted eight goals and conceded just two, underlining their superiority.
The victory also came with silverware and cash rewards, with the champions bagging ₹5 lakh, while the runners-up took home ₹3 lakh.
For Kerala, this long-awaited glory is more than just a trophy—it’s a statement of the state’s rising stature in grassroots football.