Report : Prescilla Menezes
Photos : Joachim D'Souza
Muscat, Feb 3: 'Kudla Cup - Season 4' organized by Kudla Friends Muscat kicked off amid a beautiful relaxed weekend morning promising total fun on Friday January 30.
For the first time, 12 teams registered to battle it out for the Kudla Cricket Champions Trophy in men’s category. 'SYS' - Srikanth, Yuvaraj, Suraj - the Kudla Friends-Muscat, had set the ground in top form for professional sporting event.
The teams reported in their theme uniform, and the audience gallery also pepped up the mood with the respective supporters donning their team colours. The venue was all set to witness yet another spirit filled, high energy community sports event, much awaited by each and every Kudlitein this season of the year.
Sports specialist Suraj took charge of the teams’ formation and 12 team captains reported. Accordingly the schedules of matches were formatted and planned by Srikanth and Yuvaraj.
Altogether 12 teams participated in the 4th Kudla Cup. Two more teams - South Kanara Brahmins and Padmashali - were added this year, as compared to last year, which proves the popularity of the events organized by KFM.
The teams were:
1. Billawa
2. Kudla Muslim Brothers.
3. MCCP - Oman
4. Muscat Mogaveers
5. Bearys
6. Kulal
7. Bunts Oman
8. Vishwakarma
9. Konkanas
10. Padmashali
11. Bovi
12. Brahmins
The formal inauguration of the 4th season of Kudla Cup was initiated by Manjunath Nayak, a noted leader of the GSB community. By profession, Nayak is the group financial controller of STS group of companies. Upon the inauguration by cutting the ribbon between the wickets, Nayak swung the bat to hit the ball and marked the formal start of the game.
The matches started with much action witnessing some good knocks, hits and catches. Square cuts and smashing drives, swingers and spin deliveries with the ball, some diving and rolling down for a catch - it was all there, even as the crowd cheered and applauded for their favourite players and teams.
Following are the results of the first day of cricket:
Tournament in Men’s Category:
1. First match Billawa won against Kulal and entered into quarter finals.
2. Second match Muscat Mogaveers beat MCCP and entered into quarter finals.
3. Third match Vishwakarma won against Bovi XI and entered the quarter finals.
4. Fourth match Brahmins beat Padmashali with a big margin and entered into semi-finals.
5. Fifth match Konkanas won against Kudla Muslim brothers with 9 wickets and entered into semi-finals.
6. Sixth match Bunts Oman won against Bearys and entered into quarter finals.
The commentators in their flawless flow of commentary, not only kept the spirit and momentum of the game high, but also created an atmosphere of a serious high profile tournament for the audience and players at the venue.
Second day of the cricket tournament is schedule on February 6 as follows:
Men's Category - Quarter finals
• First match being played between Billawa and Vishwakarma.
• Second match Bunts Oman versus Muscat Mogaveers.
Ladies cricket tournament will begin after the men's quarter finals.
The organizers have requested all to come in large number to witness the women's teams swinging the bat and the spinning the ball.
The spirited action confirmed that teams reported for the event had prepared well for months and entered the ground to battle it out and lift the champions’ trophy. Large numbers of Kudlites were seen gathered under one roof, in one place with much enthusiasm and spirit to share the love and harmony epitomised by cricket. Kudla Friends Muscat has indeed succeeded in this novel concept of bringing the communities of Kudla together and fostered unity and oneness.