ITI beat HAL to win 'Legends' exhibition game

Bengaluru FC Media 

A second half double from former India international and National League winner R.C. Prakash handed Indian Telephone Industries FC (ITI) a thrilling 2-0 victory over Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC (HAL) in an exhibition game organized by Bengaluru FC at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on Saturday.

After a goalless first half, Prakash (31’, 40’) finished off two brilliant counter attacking moves with Bengaluru FC player Harmanjot Khabra assisting on both occasions. Khabra in fact, was joined by first team players Erik Paartalu and Gursimrat Singh Gill in the ITI squad, while Chencho Gyeltshen, Juanan Gonzalez and Rahul Bheke turned out in HAL colours for a cameo in the second half.

Meanwhile, ITI custodian Balaji Narsimhan pulled off some brilliant saves to deny striker Xavier Vijayakumar who was a livewire for HAL throughout the game and keep their lead intact.

With the West Block of the stadium flocked by a number of vocal fans across all age groups, the legends were cheered on throughout the sixty-minute game as they went all out re-igniting their old rivalry.

HAL, ITI legends face-off tomorrow at Football Stadium

Bengaluru FC Media  

Bengaluru FC is organising an exhibition game between erstwhile football powerhouses, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited SC (HAL) and Indian Telephone Industries FC (ITI) at the Bangalore Football Stadium, on Saturday, January 19 at 4 pm. 

Notable players who will be taking part in the showpiece event include RC Prakash, Balaji Narasimhan, M Babu, Sunil (ADE), Muralidharan and Ilyas Pasha for ITI, while HAL will have the likes of Xavier Vijayakumar, Sunil, Satish Kumar and Gangadharan in their ranks. 

Speaking on the decision to organise the game, club COO, Mustafa Ghouse said, “HAL and ITI are institutions, not only in Karnataka but on the Indian football map and this game is our way of honouring their contribution to the sport. We’re proud that Bengaluru FC belongs to a city that has a rich football history and a lot of it is down to these two teams.” 

Proceeds from the sale of tickets to the game, which will be available on matchday at the Bangalore Football Stadium, will go to the HAL and ITI teams, and will be priced between Rs. 30 and Rs. 100. 

SQUADS

HAL: Basheer, Jeevanandan, Willian Crasta, Satish Kumar, Sunil, U Babu, Rajendra, Raju Sr., Paul, Somu, Gangadaran, Lawrence Sr., Lawrence Jr., Xavier Vijayakumar, Arvind, Yoganathan, Jacob, Vinod.

RD Babu (Coach), Ravindranathan (Manager).

ITI: Sundareshan, Mohan Kumar, Shakaf, Subramaniam, Aslam Khan, P. Kumar, Thomas, Rahmathulla, Rajashekar, Emanuel, Fairoz, John Kenneth Raj, Karun Raj, Vigalmani, Raja, Nazeer Ahmed, Ambrose, RC Prakash, Lionel, Vishnu, Muthukrishna, Ashwath Murthy, Rozario Estebiero, Ronnie Estebiero, Padmanabhan, Sendhil, Avijit Chaterjee, Francis, Verghese, Venkatesh R., Manohar, Harry Frank, Kumar, Harry Philips, Dinakaran, Antic, Tamilmuthu, Charles.

Sri. Kantharaj (Coach), M Babu (Manager).