07 September,2010 08:34 AM IST | | Husain M Zaidi
Zenon Sydney Aglem was happy for a couple of reasons. Firstly, his brilliant all-round performance helped St Joseph's, Wadala reach the final of Mumbai Schools Sports Association's boys under-16 inter-school football tournament. Zenon scored a late equaliser to send the game into tie-breaker against Dhirubhai Ambani, BKC at Azad Maidan yesterday.
Secondly, he replaced regular goalkeeper Bhavya Gala in the penalties and effected two crucial saves in their 4-3 win. It also meant that St Joseph's qualified for the first division of inter-school football.
Zenon was however, disappointed for missing out on top-flight football next year. This is his final year in the school. "It is sad that I won't be able to play in first division. Our main job is to win the final now. We will give our everything," he said.
Fifteen-year-old Zenon revealed that he represented his school as a 'keeper in the under-14 category earlier.
But lack of defenders made his coaches change his position. "I started out as a defender in the under-10 and under-12 age category. Then I was asked to do goalkeeping in under-14. In the under-16 category my coaches asked to get back to my original position and I was more than happy to oblige them," he said.
Meanwhile, Utpal Sanghvi, Juhu overcame St Mary's ICSE 3-2 in the second semi-final. Tabish Ansari scored a hat-trick to book a place for his side in the Division II final. Husain Vahanvaty and Shah Neel scored one each for the Mazgaon side.
