Swaminarayan Gadi Football Club Bolton (SGFC) took part in the annual SKLPC 5-a-side football tournament on Sunday 5th July 2009. 

SGFC are the 2007 champions of this tournament.

Swaminarayan Gadi Football Club Bolton were up against a tough BYG A team but managed a 0-0 draw. The game was played at a high tempo. As SGFC won their next game, the places for the semi-final were decided. The winner of the final match between Swamibapa FC and Swaminarayan Gadi FC would finish top of the group with the looser finishing second. In a tentative encounter both teams were testing the water, pushing and probing to seek out the opposition’s weaknesses.

Both teams were very familiar with each other as they had played in April during the Unity Cup. Then a quick side step from Sonam Bhudia followed by a cross goal shot lead to the opening goal SGFC. A few minutes later the referee awarded a penalty to Swaminarayan Gadi. Up stepped Chandrika Vajli, who sent the keeper the wrong way to net the second. SGFC won the game 2-0.

This meant that SGFC finished as group winners with 7 points and Swamibapa FC second with 6 points. In the other Group Bhuva Construction had finished top with 9 points and Naranpur finished second with 6 points.

The other semi-final  saw a rematch of the 2008 final between Bhuva Construction and Swamibapa. In the semi final match, Swaminarayan Gadi beat Naranpur 4-0 courtesy of a hat trick from Sonam Bhudia.

The stage was set, Bolton’s Swaminarayan Gadi FC against London’s Swamibapa FC. This is the final that both teams had hoped for. This was a momentous occasion as it showed how far both teams had come. The result wasn’t important as the cup was headed to the Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan.

With the stakes so high, both teams posed for a photo together and shook hands. From the kick off it was clear that both teams were determined to win.  The pace was quick and neither side showed signs of fatigue from previous games. With this being a final, there was substantial support for both sides.

Both sets of fans cheered their team on and around the ground chants of Swaminarayan Gadi and Swamibapa could be heard.

The first break came from Jaz Rabadia (SFC) who forced a save from Vanita Vagadia. Moments later Sonam Bhudia (SGFC) forced a save from Rupa Patel (SFC).  A cross from Reena Kerai (SFC) put Anisha Hirji (SFC) through onto goal, but Vinati Pindoria (SGFC) did well to block the shot.  The best chance of the first half fell to Heena Rabadia (SFC), again SGFC’s keeper did well and saved the shot. With minutes remaining in the first half Sonam Bhudia managed to break free of her defender and score the game’s opening goal. 1-0 to Swaminarayan Gadi.

The tempo was maintained in the second half with both teams going for the win. Most of the game was played in the middle of the park. But it was Sonam Bhudia who stole the show with a magnificent run to score the second and with it take control of the game. As the clock ticked the pressure was on. Swamibapa attacked the Swaminarayan Gadi goal without success. Swaminarayan Gadi hadn’t conceded a goal and judging by the form of the keeper it didn’t seem as if any would be conceded. The referee blew the whistle and with it Swaminarayan Gadi FC were crowned SKLPC Ladies Football Champions 2009.

After collecting their trophies both teams rushed to Golders Green mandir. Here the trophies were presented to Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa and Archarya Swamishree. Both teams were congratulated by the entire congregation.

Swaminarayan Gadi FC Team –  Amrat Bhudia (captain), Vanita Vagadia, Chandrika Valji, Sonam Bhudia, Bhoomika Doshi, Vanita Varsani, Vinanti Khimji and Anita Pindoria

Swaminarayan Gadi FC Coach Jiggy Patel.

Swamibapa FC Team – Jaz Rabadia (captain), Reena Kerai, Rupa Patel, Shaheeni Vekaria, Anisha Hirji, Heena Rabadia, Ishvari Halai and Pratisha Pindoria.

Swamibapa FC Coaches, Gopal Patel, Vasudev Khimani, Jaggy Patel and Muks Rabadia.