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The Western India Football Association (WIFA) wraps up the 2024-25 Inter District Football Championship for Senior Men, with Kolhapur Sports Association crowned champions defeating the defending champions Nagpur
The championship, conducted at Nagpur’s Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Stadium, witnessed Maharashtra’s best district talent.
Kolhapur’s journey to the trophy was not at all easy. The journey started with a 1-1 draw with Amravati and a bold 8-0 win against Chandrapur, which ultimately helped their goal difference, but it was almost cut short after a 3-0 thumping by Nagpur in the group stages that put qualification to the knockouts on thin ice.
That energetic victory over Chandrapur eventually pushed Kolhapur into the semi-finals, where they were up against a strong Mumbai team that had not allowed a single goal in the group stage. Stepping up to the challenge, Kolhapur’s young striker Darshan Patil broke the Mumbai defense with a double, pushing his team into the final and paving the way for revenge against Nagpur.
Confronted with the same Nagpur side that had beaten them 3-0 during the initial encounter, Kolhapur showed tactical astuteness and attacking severity during the final. Two early strikes provided them with a buffer, and while Nagpur tried to mount a comeback, Kolhapur’s rearguard was impenetrable. The final whistle sealed Kolhapur’s revival and rewarded their grit with a hard-earned title.
While Mumbai Football Association clinched third spot with a resounding 5-0 win over Pune, displaying impressive end to the championship.
