by BIS correspondent
ANDHERI-MUMBAI, FEBRUARY 21, 2014: The management of St Dominic Savio Boys’ Home, Andheri organized the “Savion Inter Corporate Football Tournament – Sports for Education”, on their multi-purpose synthetic turf court on the 15th and 16th of Feb, 2014. This event was for the education, welfare and general upliftment of the 75 boarders of the institute, and the 250 children of the surrounding basti, who are tutored at the institute every evening.
There were many generous corporates as well as individuals who came forward donating funds, putting up banners and corporate stalls
Sports for Education was flagged off on the 15th of Feb at 11:00am, by Godfrey Pereira, the ex-vice-captain of the Indian Football team. The boarders and evenings study children performed a dance during the inauguration ceremony. There were 24 corporate teams that participated in the tournament.
On the first day the qualifying rounds of the league were played to reach the quarter finals. The icing on the cake was the visit by the charismatic, affable and much loved Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan, who came to grace the occasion.
Abhishek Bachchan is the captain of the “All Stars Football Club”, which is a GS Entertainment initiative. GS Entertainment is owned by an eminent businessman Guneet Singh Walia, who, to the delight of all, was also present for the occasion. Abhishek who played an exhibition match with the boarders of the institute, commented that the winners of the tournament will play a football match against the All Stars Football Club in the near future. He motivated the children when he spoke to them encouraged them to work hard and do well in their studies too. Day one of Sports For Education ended with the declaration of the results of the quarter finals to be held the next day.
Day two of Sports For Education began with the audience witnessing a great game of football on the synthetic turf court. The day was also interspersed with dance performances of St. Dominic Savio’s very own Jabbawockeez dance troupe. The final match was played between Direct I and Indigo Airlines. Indigo Airlines won the tournament by scoring 8 goals against Direct I, who managed to score a respectable 2 goals against Indigo Airlines’ impenetrable defenders, and lethal strikers. Mr Jacinto D’silva, the former Indian football player, along with players of Indigo Airlines, took pride in lifting the glittering golden trophy. During the presentation ceremony 4 special prizes were awarded - Reece Santos from Indigo Air Lines for best player, Sukesh Bangera from HDFC BANK 'B' for best goalkeeper, Mikhail D'SA from Indigo Airlines for highest goal scorer. The Air India team was awarded the fair play trophy.