Media Release
Abu Dhabi, Jan 30: Konkani Cultural Organization (KCO) Abu Dhabi successfully conducted its 5th edition of throwball tournament on Friday January 29 at the Abu Dhabi Indian School grounds. It was a day filled with exciting matches enjoyed by the players and a large audience alike.
In an exciting round of ladies final sets played between the KCO team and Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, the Karnataka Sangha ladies lifted the prestigious KCO winner’s trophy and KCO Ladies team lifted the runners-up trophy.
In an equally exciting men's finals, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha team lifted the winner’s trophy and Dubai Bunts team settled for the runners-up trophy.
These teams managed to reach the finals after a grueling set of matches played through the morning with other teams from the UAE namely, Bunts Dubai, Coastal friends UAE, Mangalore Konkans, Mogaveeras and Konkans Dubai.
The event was flagged off in the morning with an inaugural ceremony in the Abu Dhabi Indian school auditorium. Sandya Vas, the KCO sports secretary greeted the gathering.Master of ceremony VivekSerrao extended a warm welcome to all the teams, sponsors, guests and audience.
The sponsors of the event were Hyssna International LLC, Regal Furnishing and Storage Systems LLC, Al Mazroui and Clevy Automobile Services LLC and Noble Marine Metals Company WLL.
The guests present were Sudhir Kumar Shetty (president, UAE Exchange) Sarvotham Shetty (president, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha), Walter Almeida and Thelma Almeida (Regal Furnishing and Storage Systems LLC), Carol Rodrigues (Al Mazroui and Clevy Automobiles LLC), Michael D’Silva (Noble Marine Metals Co), and Bennett D'Mello (administrator, ADIS). They were honoured with bouquets. Also present on the dais were senior members of KCO, Dolphy Vas, Gerald D'Mello and Valerian Dalmeida, Sandhya Vas (sports secretary) and Frankline D'Cunha (KCO throwball team manager)
Leo Rodrigues, president of KCO Abu Dhabi welcomed the gathering and stressed the importance of playing with true sportsman spirit and inspired the teams with a message on maintaining friendliness on the field. Sudhir Kumar Shetty (president, UAE Exchange) spoke on the occasion and imparted inspiring words of encouragement to the teams.
Oath-taking was led by Doreen Alvarees, ladies captain of KCO, joined by the team captains and players. This was followed by the national anthem of UAE and India. The guests released balloons and tossed a few balls across in the throwball court and inaugurated the tournament.
The matches were played on league basis and all the teams put up a good fight. The referees for the day were Shiva Shetty, Naveen Salian, Deepthi S, Latha Shetty, Vivek Serrao and Melvin D’Souza.
Another interesting feature of the tournament was that all the team players were randomly mixed up into teams and all players got a rare opportunity to play in mixed teams. This was a good opportunity to make new friends with other team members. Each team was given a different coloured t-shirt. All players from the playing teams were distributed in 8 teams which were named Black Panthers, Purple Jaguars, White Falcons, Red Dragons, Orange Cheetahs, Green Vipers, Blue Tigers and Grey Wolves. In the men’s section Purple Jaguars won against Black Panthers in the finals whereas White Falcons ladies team won against Green Vipers in other finals. It was well appreciated by the players.
The winners in the mixed ladies tournament were the White Falcons and runners up were Green Vipers.
In the men’s mixed tournament, the winners were Purple Jaguars and Runners-up were Black Panthers.
It was an enjoyable day filled with fun and excitement. Lunch was served to all present.
In a glittering prize distribution ceremony trophies were given to the winners and runner up teams and best individual performers.
Ladies
Best allrounder - Mabel Rebello, KCO
Best defender – Sheela Sudhir Shetty, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Best striker -Vijaya Tantry, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Men
Best allrounder -Guruprasad Bhandary, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Best defender – Dany D'Souza, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha
Best striker - Suraj Shetty, Bunts Dubai
Match referees and Media representatives were honored with mementos for their service.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Canute Kelarai, general decretary,KCO. The daylong event was compered by Vivek Serrao who displayed incredible charm and poise. The entire day went off smoothly with great amount of discipline amongst the teams, fair play and exciting games.