Independence Cup football tourney concludes on a high note

Mangalore, August 15: The month-long football tournament in the city organised by Dakshina Kannada District Football Association (DKDFA) came to a close on August 15 on the occasion of Independence Day.

The final matches of the High School, P.U. and Degree section were held today, prior to the closing ceremony.

Presiding over the closing ceremony of the 16th Independence Cup Football Tournament, Chairman of Karavali Group of Colleges Ganesh Rao said that Mangalore had been mirrored negatively in the national media with the recent homestay attack. “But the student community has turned out in such large numbers at an event like this. Students from over 170 schools and colleges have come together and showed us what the youth of Mangalore are about. This is the Mangalore that we should be proud of,” he said.

He said that the youngsters of Mangalore could never be bad. “They always obey the law, and abide by the rules. If a few of them have gone astray, it may be due to lack of motivation. But, one must never give up their morality and humanity. Today we are celebrating our freedom in the right sense. We must stand up united and do what is right. You are the future generation who have the responsibility of carrying forward the image of Mangalore which we all stand for,” he advised the students.

President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mohammed Amin was felicitated on the occasion. Faatis, a student of Ullal's Bharathi English Medium (B.E.M.) School who represented Karnataka State at the national level in football in the Under-14 category, was also felicitated for his achievement.

Mohammed Amin, Assistant General Manager of Union Bank of India K.P. Acharya, General Manager of Karnataka Bank Jayaram Hande, Managing Partner of Vishwas Bawa Builders Rauf Puthige, Director of A.K. Group of Industries A.K. Niyaz, and Director of Yojana India Ltd. Devadas Boloor were the guests of honour and distributed the prizes to the football teams.

In the Higher Primary category, Morning Star Hr. Primary School, Bajpe, emerged winners in both girls and boys section.

In the High School level, St. Joseph's School, Bajpe, bagged the first place in the girls section, while B.E.M. School, Ullal, won in the boys section.

In the P.U. category, St. Aloysius P.U. College 'A' and 'B' bagged the first and second place respectively.

In the Degree college finals, St. Aloysius College 'A' defeated Meridian College 'A' team in an exacting match where Tousif scored both the goals for the winning team.

Vamanjoor's St. Joseph's Engineering College bagged the first place in the Professional College category after defeating Canara Engineering College.