FKCA Sports Meet 2009
Report: Albina Vaz
Bangalore Nov 15: The Sports Meet organized by Federation of Konkani
Catholic Associations (FKCA) at the St. Joseph’s Indian school ground in
Bangalore on Sunday was a day of fun and joy for children as well as elders.
Arjuna Awardee A B Subbaiah, who
has the rare distinction of representing Indian Hockey team for 11 consecutive
years in more than 285 international matches, including 2 Olympics, World Cup
tournaments and 3 Asian games, declared the meet open early on Sunday morning.
Children and youngsters as well as adults and even senior citizens, but full of
vigour and zeal as well as young at heart, representing different Konkani
Catholic Associations from various parts of Bangalore participated in the
fun-filled events which were full of competitive spirit.It is pertinent to
mention that Subbaih is presently coaching Indian Women’s Hockey Team as if to
prove that women sports enthusiasts, even homemakers, do not bag behind when it
comes to taking part in sports events.
There were 25 different events
organized separately for men and women besides Inter-Association Cricket match
for men and throw ball for women on knockout basis. There was overwhelming
response and enthusiastic participation from all the associations. Though the
cloudy atmosphere and the slight drizzle early in the morning threatened to play
spoilsport, the skies brightened as the day progressed and the sports and games
events went on without any interruption in a pleasant atmosphere. The most
attractive events were the competitions for traditional thatching of coconut
leaves (modlam volchem) and knotting jasmine flowers (mogri guntchem), which
attracted over 60 participants individually. The winner of modlam volchem event
was Jane Lewis from Chamarajpet Association, who was thoroughly applauded. For
the mogri guntchem event Zita Quadros was the winner. The Mangalorean style
Music Band from Kon –CAB Association was an added attraction.
The rustic atmosphere that was created with women keenly competing against each
other through the modlam volchem and mogri guntchem contests created a special
celebrative mood among the people. Woven coconut leaves were used by members to
sit and relax on the ground in groups. Some put them beside the tracks to sit
and cheer their Association participants, which added to the festive
spirit.Children were seen running around and playing. Dads were looking after
the toddlers when the wives were participating in different events. Family
atmosphere was very much present. Elders were refreshing the old acquaintances.
The meet started with a Friendly
Cricket Match between FKCA committee members (gents and ladies) combine and the
President XI (some of the presidents were suitably replaced), in which the FKCA
team won. The fastest man/boy of the event was Neil Lobo of RT Nagar KCA and
woman/girl was Jyothi Mascarenhas from Indiranagar Association.
The most watched and cheered game was women’s throw ball matches. Nine
Associations participated and every match was a tough one. KCA Mathikere and
Con-CAB teams came to the finals and Con-CAB emerged as the winner. However, the
match between Jayanagar and Kon-Cab was a classic one. With scores 20-25, 23-25
and 25-27, there was a very tough fight for the last match point.
One of the referee for throw ball match was Asif of Amateur Throw Ball
Federation of India, who has represented India in International matches.
Thirteen Association teams played for the cricket tournament. While there was a
tough fight for the finals in Cricket match between BKCS Koramangala and CKA
Dasararalli, BKCS team won the match in the end.
In the couple’s game, the winners
for the three-legged race were Juliet and Pascal Miranda. The brick race
involving the husband placing bricks on the ground and the wife walking on them
without landing on the ground, the winner was Reshma and Robert Monis. The
couples who won these games were so perfect in the judgment and synchronization
in their action, that when asked how they could perform so well, they laughingly
remarked: "We follow the same formula in our married life."
The Rolling shield was taken by RT Nagar KCWA team.
Championship Points Table
| Association | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total Points |
| Konkani Catholic Welfare Association, R.T. Nagar | 5 | 4 | 8 | 45 |
| Konkani Catholic Sangh, Yeshwanthpur | 7 | 2 | 3 | 44 |
| Konkani Catholic Association, Bangalore (Kon-Cab) | 4 | 4 | 5 | 37 |
| St. Anne’s Konkan Kutaam, HAL, Bangalore | 3 | 2 | 3 | 24 |
| Konkani Samudai, Jayanagar | 0 | 6 | 3 | 21 |
| St. Joseph’s Konkani Catholic Samudai, Chamarajpet | 2 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| Konkan Catholic Association, Mathikere | 1 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| Konkani Kutamb, Indiranagar | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
| Konkani Catholic Welfare Assocuation, Rajajinagar | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
| Bangalore Konkani Catholic Sangh, Koramangala | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Catholic Konkani Association, T Dasarahalli | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Most of the events had a tough
competition and umpires/referees had very tough time in making their decisions
and choosing the winners. Tony Lucas conducted efficiently all the track events.
FKCA chairman Charles Gomes led from the front participating in most of the
events and getting a number of prizes.
The chief guest Subbaiah was all praise for the wonderful initiative taken by
FKCA. He recalled that such events were regularly being organized in his home
district of Kodagu with hockey competitions involving different families. The
Hockey tournament was the main attraction and almost all the people participate.
Such events surely boost the culture, he said.
The Guest of Honour was Richard
Vincent D’Souza, Joint Commissioner Traffic, Bangalore. The torch bearers were
Aaron D’souza who has a total of 293 medals at his credit both at National and
International level in swimming and Shaun D’Souza who has won 82 medals in
swimming nationally and internationally. Both belong to the SJKCS, Chamarajpet.
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