By Dn Selvin D’Mello for BIS Mumbai

The Chhotaudepur Football League organized by Don Bosco Past Pupil Federation, Chhotaudepur concluded on September 29,  2024. The league matches were held over a period of seven Sundays. There were ten football teams who had registered themselves for this league. It was the momentous occasion since it was the first time in the history of the institution the football league matches were held in the campus. Twenty-two matches were played over a period of seven weeks. The final match of the league was played between Tribal FC and Ambala City FC on September 29. The Tribal FC got a stunning victory over Ambala City FC, the final score of the match was 3-2 respectively.

After the final match, a valedictory function was organized to give away the prizes for the teams and the individuals who had participated in the league matches. Mr Ramsingh Mansing, the principal of Model School Gogambha, was the chief guest for the event. In his address to the gathering, he expressed his gratitude to the institution for shaping the lives of a significant number of people in and around Chhotaudepur district. Mr Mansing further thanked the past pupil federation of Chhotaudepur for taking initiative in organizing the football tournament, which gave them the opportunity to catch up with their school mates and recalling their school days. Mr Ramilaben Rathwa a past pupil of the institution was the guest of honour for the occasion. Mr Rathwa is a government teacher in the vicinity, he too, in his speech appreciated Salesian fathers and brothers who taught them good values and disciplined them. Both the chief guest and the guest of honour were very appreciative of the work carried forward by Salesian fathers and brothers in Chhotaudepur. 

The winning team and the runner up teams were awarded a cash prize of Rs 10,000/- and Rs 5,000/- respectively, along with the trophy. There were prizes for the individuals too, Mr Shailesh Rathwa was awarded as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. Mr Ramsing Jirma was given the award as the best player of the tournament and Mr Vechat Rathwa was awarded as the best scorer of the tournament.

Fr Cedrick Sankul the local delegate of the past pupil federation thanked all the past pupils for being present for the event not only today but for the last seven Sundays. In a special way, Fr Sankul thanked the core committee of the past pupil federation for their painstaking efforts in successfully organizing this event.