Shoeb steals the thunder

In other matches of the day, Ornellas and hosts Shri Shivaji Prepratory Military School Day Scholars (minis) failed to score in 50 minutes of regulation play while Nutan English School (NES) failed to turn up against Ornella’s.

JN Petit, a Band Garden team, drubbed Angels 10-0, dominating the Lilliputians from Loni. Despite the huge scoreline, Angels vistied their rivals’ goal now and then, coming close to scoring on a few occasions.Earlier, Joe Sebastian D’Souza, the principal of the SSPMS (Boarding) inaugurated the tournament. HD Honroa and Gangaram Choudhary — both sports teachers from the school — were also present.

Some example!

Catch ’em young. They came to give their best on the soccer pitch and what did they get in return?

Anarchy in the rules and regulations at the Inter-Schools football being played at the SSPMS ground. At the centre were full-grown adults, in the garb of officials! Matches of 30 and 25 minutes duration for seniors and juniors respectively were grossly curtailed — one hopes not the enthusiasm of little feet as well.

The officiating must have misled mini players on the pitch. Spectators — including parents in the main — were quick to respond with catcalls. And why not … A long lob from the centre of the pitch that beat Hutchings goalkeeper by a Kataria defender was adjudged to be off-side! The aficionado, braving perplexing officiating in the local city league, perhaps does not expect anything better. It so happens that the organisers of the schools event, the Poona Schools Amateur Athletics Association, are using the much-maligned Poona District Football Association referees.

A case of old habits die hard, perhaps!