St Aloysius, Tipu Sultan College Bag Top Honours at I-Day Football Cup

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (SR/AF)

Mangalore, Aug 15: After sweating it out for over 20 days, three teams in various categories lifted the 14th Independence Day Football Cup following high-packed action at Nehru Maidan here on Sunday August 15.

The victors, St Aloysius High School, St Aloysius PU College and Tipu Sultan Degree College went past 152 other teams from all over Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts to emerge champions in the tournament organised by the Dakshina Kannada district football association.

Large crowds gathered at the stadium to watch the three final matches. It was a great treat for the spectators as teams from two of the top institutions in the city, St Aloysius and Milagres, vied for the coveted title in high school and PU college categories.

St Aloysius team also qualified for the degree college category, but lost to Tippu Sultan Degree College which scored the only goal of the match thanks to brilliant performances by goal-scorer Shafeeq and others.

While the St Aloysius High School team defeated their counterparts from Milagres in a 4-1 tie-breaker, PU team from St Aloysius College thrashed their rivals with four goals to nil. The star performers in the PU categories were Sadiq, Anwaz, Aflal and Ameer, all from the winning team.

The tournament included two other categories as well, the finals of which were held some days back. While Morning Star, Bajpe secured the top place in the higher primary girls section, it was NIT - K High School that took the honours in high school girls category.

Former state junior football player Abdullah hoisted the national flag on the occasion to mark India’s 64th Independence Day.

The matches were followed by the presentation ceremony during which prizes were handed over to all the winners.

S Ganesh Rao, founder, Karavali Group of Colleges, in his presidential address said that during the tournament various players from different religions had played with unity, symbolising love and affection. He added that winning or losing was part of the game and all the players who participated were winners.

M R Vasudeva, director of Mangalore Airport, Fr Alvyn Serrao, principal, Rosario PU College, Abdul Rauf Puthige, chairman, Talent Research Foundation, and social activist Pundalika Karkera and other dignitaries were present.