Mangalore: Taccode Win Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao Cricket Trophy
by Richie Lasrado, Resident Editor, Daijiworld .com, Mangalore
Pics Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Mangalore, Apr 29: In a thriller of a cricket final match between Taccode and Shirtady teams in the Flt Lt Ronald Kevin Serrao Memorial Cricket Tournament held on the Cordel cricket ground on Sunday April 29 evening, the Taccode team won by 5 runs.
Taccode batted first and scored 82 for 4 in the allotted ten overs. In reply, Shirtady started off well but kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. The dismissals included run-outs and stumping. They came very close to winning snatching away the trophy with seven runs required in the last three balls. But losing a wicket at that stage cost them the match. They could make only 77 for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted ten overs.
At the presentation ceremony, Cordel-Kulshekar parish priest and organizing committee chairman Fr Lawrence D'Souza, vicar general Fr Fred V Pereira (representing Bishop Aloysius D'Souza who could not be present), the late Flt Lt Ronald Serrao's parents - Lt Col (Retd) John Serrao and Dr Jessica Serrao, entrepreneur Lancy Mascarenhas, mayor Vijaya Arun, representatives of various sponsors and others were on the dais.
Lt Col Serrao thanked the organizers for launching this tournament which would be annual feature now on for the purpose of perpetuating the memory of his late son. He mentioned that after the tragic death of his son and inspired by his martyrdom, a good number of young men and women had approached him seeking guidance on joining the armed forces. The number of people joining the armed forces from DK and Udupi districts has been minimal. Considering this, he said he would be prepared to arrange training for the aspirants with the help of the armed personnel free of cost.
Mayor Vijaya Arun, who herself was a sportsperson and athlete during her student days, expressed happiness over so much cricketing talent being around and now efforts being taken to identify and recognize them.
VG Fr Fred Pereira received a symbolic cheque for Rs 100,000 (one lac) from the proceeds of the tournament for the diocesan health fund and said the total target of the fund was Rs one crore, which would have to be collected throught the generosity of the donors.
The tournament was held on three consecutive Sundays - April 15, 22 and 29 - in a knockout pattern. In all 24 parish teams took part in the fixtures. The most interesting part of it was that most of the teams from the city and around were out of the reckoning at the semifinals and two distant teams - Shirtady and Taccode, incidentally both hailing from Moodbidri area - qualified for the final. In the morning session, there was a tie among the semi-finalists, and the result was decided by the spin of a coin.
The organizing team consisted of energetic members like Richard Alvares, Roy Castelino, Sushil Noronha, Loy Noronha, Jeevan Vas and others who were supported by a large number of team-members.
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