Report: Valerian Pereira, Shirtady
Pics: Stany Sampige

Dubai, Jun 14: A family cricket match was organized by Udentichim Neketram, Moodbidri Varado Catholic Association on Friday June 13 at Zaabeel Park, Dubai under flood lights.

The tournament commenced with a prayer and a welcome speech followed by the formal inauguration of the match by the association president Melwin Cardoza Taccode.

As announced, the tournament was exclusively for children, women and men, aimed at creating diversion and sporting environment among the families of the association residing in the UAE.

There were eight teams comprising equal number of children and women. It was an under-arm tournament.

The teams were given traditional household names Adalo, Koithul, Urmal, Boithad, Kudanti, Kurkil, Chambodi and Kuttari to evoke nostalgia of childhood. The names were chosen with a view to symbolize that Mangaloreans do not lose their unique identity no matter where they go or what they do.

Apart from prizes to the winning and the runners-up team, there were also other prizes like that for the man of the match, man of the series, woman of the series, best male and female bowlers, best male and female fielders, most sixes and most decent team.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Valerian Pereira Shirtady who thanked the participants, organizers and the volunteers whose ceaseless pain and strain made the event possible. He also thanked the in-house sponsors Lawrence D'Souza of Al Rein Metalic Industries, Henry D'Souza of Pacific Ocean Electrical Switchgears, Elias D'Souza of Trust Engineering LLC and Melwin Cardoza of Al Shay Restaurant who have always stood by the association.

Premus Rosario Bijai and Rajesh Mulki officiated the match while the score was kept by Ullas Fernandes and Paul D'Souza. Vinay Pinto, Maxim D'Souza, Lawrence Cardoza and Xavier entertained the crowd with their lively commentary in Konkani, Hindi and English.