Three Wise Monkeys Crowned National Champions of Road To Old Trafford Tournament
Chennai, April 06, 2025: Three Wise Monkeys have been crowned as the National Champions of the Apollo Tyres Road To Old Trafford 5-a-side tournament in a thrilling finale at the Hotfut Spr Sports, Perambur in Chennai on Sunday.
Three Wise Monkeys defeated Swig in penalties by 3-2 (2-2) to win the finale and book the ticket to Old Trafford.
In the initial round of the Road To Old Trafford in Pune and New Delhi, 40 teams battled it out for the six spots that were up for grabs for the Chennai finals. Ultimately, it was Stilton Cafe (Delhi), Tajore Cafe (Delhi), BP Street (Noida) from New Delhi along with Three Wise Monkeys (Mumbai), Swig (Pune), K-Bar (Goa) from Pune who qualified for the final stage, held in Chennai.
The winning team Three Wise Monkeys have earned themselves one of the most coveted prizes that any Indian football team can win – a chance to play at the hallowed turf at Old Trafford where some of the legends of the game over the years have enthralled football fans. The team from Mumbai will be getting an unparalleled and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Manchester, UK for an all-expenses paid trip and play at the legendary Old Trafford stadium, also called The Theatre of Dreams and the home of Manchester United FC.
The Grand Finale of the Apollo Tyres’ Road To Old Trafford to determine the Global Winner will be held at the iconic stadium on June 6 later this year.
Scott Moraes, captain of Three Wise Monkeys said, ” This competition is one in the world. For an Indian footballer to have a chance to go to Manchester United and play, it’s goosebumps. It doesn’t get better than this in life, I promise you that. I wanted to win it for the boys because there are many upcoming youngsters we promoted. So it’s all for them. We are super excited and looking forward to have a great time there.”
Remus D’Cruz, Head, Sports Marketing and Communities, Apollo Tyres Ltd, said “I congratulate the winner Three Wise Monkeys who will now go on to play at the iconic Old Trafford. It is a remarkable achievement and a prestigious opportunity for Three Wise Monkeys, given the stadium’s rich history, devoted fanbase, being the home of Manchester United, one of the world’s most successful football clubs. Through the ‘Road to Old Trafford’ initiative, we strive to celebrate India’s passion for football and provide talented players with a platform to showcase their skills. We hope this initiative serves as a catalyst, inspiring and empowering young Indian footballers to elevate their game to new heights.”
The tournament had 40 teams from different parts of India competing against each other in high-octane matches filled with action, drama and excitement during the Pune and Delhi leg. The best six teams advanced to the national finals, where Three Wise Monkeys eventually emerged victorious.