#MeetTheTeam: Youth Boys

This year, we are starting a #MeetTheTeam series. Every month we’ll introduce you to a couple of our teams that take the turf every 2021 Winter weekend to battle it out for the win. This month’s team is the… AISC Youth Boys.

Author: Kaushik Patel

The AISC Youth Boys teams for 2021 consist of a fantastic bunch of young men. Considering there are a number of Auckland Hockey affiliated clubs that do not even field youth teams and the opposite of that spectrum the ‘big’ clubs are fielding 3 to 4 youth teams, we as a ‘small’ club are delighted to be able to field two youth boy’s teams again this season.

Unlike last year where up to 7 players were playing in both youth teams, this year we can boast two teams with a squad of 12 players in each team and naturally we still must use 3 to 4 players from the ‘other’ team each week to fill the subs bench.

The most pleasing aspect this season is the new players or returning players we have picked up; long may this continue.

One boys team play in the Friday night Premier competition which has turned into a bit of a ‘shambles’ with only 4 teams competing, the other boys team play in the Sunday morning Championship grade.

The teams are ably looked after by a bunch of keen coaches/managers/mentors etc. The Premier team have me, Raj Pancha and Umesh Dayal, the Championship team are fortunate to have Senior Men’s Premier players Prashant Patel and Krishan Patel leading the young charges. The common denominator for both teams is Vinod Soma whose son Dev currently plays in goal for both teams thereby ensuring Vinod ‘voluntarily 😉’ umpires for both teams.

It would be amiss of us and disrespectful if we were to only name the players, each one is unique and invaluable to the team and club, thereby please find following a short biopsy of the 24 registered players:

AISC Youth Boys Premier Team:

1.     Shay Patel
Son of former ‘Star’ player Parry Patel, Shay has just come back to the club after a hiatus, his silky skill, lightning movements have mesmerised his opposition. Shay can easily play in the inside positions as well as up front and has been a welcome addition to the Premier team.

2.     Krishna Mistry
Krishna is a good friend of Shay’s and they both re-joined this season. Krishna has strong family ties to the club with Uncle Praful coaching the girl’s youth, and cousins playing at youth and senior level. Krishan has transferred his natural cricketing skills into hockey and has been prolific upfront scoring some great ‘poaching’ goals.

3.     Aarun Patel
Aarun at the age of 15 is a stalwart of both team and club, he’s been playing for the club since he was 5 years old and has transferred his ‘enginelike midfield’ domination into attacking skills this season and has already scored twice for the senior teams, one of those a critical goal at this seasons QBT!

4.     Miheer Patel
Miheer, like Aarun, has been playing for the club for a while now, they both play for club and school in the same team and have a real good understanding of the game and each other’s personal strengths. Miheer totally controls the game at the centre of defence and has an unbelievable awareness of the game, he has really stepped up as a leader this current season.

5.     Malay Patel
Malay oozes confidence and self-belief, this aligned with his silky skill stickwork, and aggressive natural game means he is our dominant force in the middle of the park. Malay has scored some fantastic goals for both youth and senior teams this season and has only been sent off once thus far meaning he is controlling this aggressive game.

6.     Jayman Bhana
Jayman, like his father, and totally unlike mother, is the ‘silent assassin and leader’, the rest of the boys respect his knowledge and skills and look up to him, he controls the middle of the field with Aarun, Malay and Miheer. Once Jayman gets his haircut he will then be able to see where he is going and will be even more lethal!

7.     Shaylin Dahya
Shaylin is the teams ‘Pretty Boy’ and has a fashion style that puts all other to shame! After an early season injury setback, he has come back firing and was a standout player on the recent tour to CHCH, both on and off the field. Shaylin preferred position is at right or left half although he has attacking flair to burn as well.

8.     Nikeel Dayal
Nikeel is a chip off the ‘old block’, loves the looks and has a business streak in him, currently trading sunglasses if anybody needs a pair! A tireless team man up front does some unbelievable running and creates room and chances for his teammates.

9.     Arjun Pancha
The ‘Karate Kid’ has the same silky skills just like his ‘old man’! For a player so slender his self-belief and confidence are awesome to see and once he puts his reverse stick shot away 😉 he will trouble plenty more defenders. Arjun can be seen lurking around the wings as well as the girl’s dorm on tour, once again……… just like his old man!

10.  Ronit Patel
Another pretty boy and astute businessman, if you’re looking for top end ‘American Sports Trainers’ this is the man for you. When Ronit is not attracting the opposite sex, he is seen ‘sliding’ past opposition with his deft touches and can play in the defence or midfield. Another who has really stepped up in the ‘Leadership’ area!

11.  Amir Natali
Amir is another who has re-joined the club and has amazed all with his natural ability. He seems to glide past the opposition in his favoured right wing position and is always looking to improve, he has been an amazing addition to the team.

12.  Shakeel Kanji
The fourth returnee to the club, Shak’s has been an awesome addition this year bringing with him exuberant energy and much needed aggression especially when he played for the other team! Originally starting the season as a defender, he has now also donned the goalkeeping attire and performs admirably in both positions.

AISC Youth Boys Championship Team:

1.     Dev Soma
A brick wall in the cage Dev is sure not to give the attackers an easy goal scoring chance. Playing two games a weekend Dev makes sure that he gives his 100% for both teams and startles the on-coming attackers.

2.     Krrish ‘Chand’ Patel
Another quiet one in the team but his hockey skills don’t represent this. Krish has stepped up as a leader in the championship team guiding his team mates to success and shown his eagerness and ableness to perform at a high level in the premier team. Krrish can play either in defence or his favoured midfield position

3.     Dhruv Patel
Dhruv is a member of the strikers who demonstrates his skill, ability, and pace by taking any chance he is given. Whether that be on the post for a deflection or sprinting down the wing receiving a ball, Dhruv is sure not to leave the insides and centre half waiting for a pass. His “have-a-go” attitude is something that is praised upon by his team. 

4.     Aditya Misra
Adi has recently stepped up to be a leader in the championship team, with only a small number of playing years of experience his eagerness to learn and stubborn attitude is something the other boys can learn from. A mid-season knee ligament injury has put him on the sidelines however his commitment to the team still sees him attend the tour and games. 

5.     Neel Patel
One of trio of friends/relatives in the team, Neel orchestrated the resigning’s this year of his mates Prashant and Akshay. Neels commitment to the cause sees him travelling from Silverdale twice a week for training and games, this commitment coupled with his defensive skills and mature outlook makes him an important member of the team.

6.     Prashant Patel
2nd part of the trio, Prashant has made remarkable progress to pick up the skills again since his last outing in hockey some years ago. Big strong player who adds a lot of strength to the middle of the field whether it be for the Friday or Sunday team.

7.     Akshay Patel
The third part of the trio and another hard tough no nonsense defender who reads the game well and truly a complete team player, always there for the rest of the team.

8.     Flynn Russell
Newcomer to the team/club, a welcome addition with oodles of skill and pace and an attitude that other boys around him can learn from. 

 9.     Krish Jayesh Patel
Krish with ‘one r’ is another one of our ‘pocket rocket’ defenders who can read the game easily and communicates really well with his defensive teammates around him. 

10.  Prajin Chaggan
Another ‘silent assassin’ with tons of skill and can play in the midfield or defence easily.

11.  Ritik Bilimoria
Another player who lacks years of hockey experience but that certainly does not hamper his ability to play awesome hockey on the right/left wing leaving defenders in his dust. Ritik’s first sport, cricket, certainly helps his hockey and we’ve seen some amazing cricket shots in the attacking circle resulting in some extravagant goals.

12.  Chimnay Patel
Cheeky ‘Chimnay’ has the talk and is a confident little dynamo, being one of the youngest members in the squad does not hold him back from standing up to the big boys.

In summary, with the current set up of the youth boy’s teams, the number of, the quality of and the amazing team culture they have created, the future of this great club is in good hands!

Kaushik Patel
AISC Youth Teams Head Coach

 For more info on draws and results, click here.