The Jammu and Kashmir Senior Men’s Football Team delivered a dominant performance in their final Phase-1 group match of the Santosh Trophy, beating Ladakh 5-0. Their exceptional display of skill and tactical play earned them the top spot in the group with a perfect record. This victory saw J&K amass 9 points from three matches, netting an impressive 10 goals and conceding just 1.
Following an undefeated run in the Group Stage of the 78th Men’s Senior National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy 2024-25, J&K’s senior men’s football team is ready to advance to the Final Rounds of the competition. Under the leadership of coach Meharjuddin Waddoo and captain Aakif Reshi, the team secured victories over Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Ladakh in their group-stage matches.
According to the draw released on Tuesday, J&K has been placed in Group A, where they will face West Bengal, Services, Manipur, Telangana, and Rajasthan. The matches are set to take place at the Deccan Arena in Hyderabad, Telangana. J&K’s first match is scheduled for December 14 against West Bengal, followed by encounters with Services on December 16, Manipur on December 18, Telangana on December 21, and Rajasthan on December 23.
In the final round, 12 teams will be split into two groups, A and B. The top four teams from each group will move on to the knockout stages, which will include quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final. The group stage matches will be held at eight different venues across the country, while the final round will be hosted in Telangana.
Congratulations pour in for J&K team’s outstanding performance
Satish Sharma, the Minister for Youth Services and Sports, extended his congratulations to the team for their exceptional performance, commending both the athletes and the technical staff. He emphasized the significant football talent in J&K and expressed his confidence in the team’s bright future. Meanwhile, Sarmad Hafeez, the Secretary of Youth Services and Sports, praised the team for their excellent efforts during the competition’s opening stage.
Nuzhat Gul, Secretary of the J&K Sports Council, also expressed her pride in the team’s achievements, affirming her belief that J&K football is poised for greater success on the national stage. She attributed the team’s success to a rigorous selection process, extensive training camps, and the expert guidance provided by the J&K Sports Council’s dedicated staff.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
