More on campus football - Surya S.

Wednesday 21st

FIFA Cup might be the greatest football fete for many people, but XLers beg to disagree. Nothing is as challenging as the Ratanjee Memorial Tournament, the annual Senior v/s Junior sports fete at XLRI – i.e. nothing other than an XLRI - IIMC match. So the juniors have been holding league matches among themselves to select the Ratanjee football team.

The third match started, and the teams (BM-A and PM&IR) got into the groove almost immediately. The scene was perfectly set, with the monsoon hovering above, and a very vocal bunch of supporters on both sides of the ground. For sheer throat power and enthu, there are not many on earth who can stand up to a bunch of XLers. Priya, the official amplifier of IR batch was leading the pack. Danty was providing ample support to the teams while Dijo, the official mascot of IRs was running around the field.

The BM gang was also well equipped. Monga was working his grey cells overtime, shouting for all he was worth. The rest of the BMs also were a very loud crowd, adding to the general display of enthusiasm by the crowd.

There was some neat footwork by both the teams. In the BM camp, Sudhir, despite his malnourished frame, did some neat foot work. Mohit was very much focused. Mrugank and Sumit were here, there and everywhere supported efficiently by the likes of Richik and Gautam.

But that doesn’t mean that the IRs were any less competent. Roshan and Fauji were tackling like anything, with Piyush, Rajiv, Ronel, Nikhil and others played a very coordinated game. The teamwork was supported by Desmond, the goalie, who never let the ball pass beyond him. The superior coordination and team work of the IRs were rewarded when Sanker score the first goal almost nearing the end of the first half. The spectators (who were mostly the IR bunch) went berserk with joy.

The second half was much more vigorous both on and off fields, with the players giving it there very best, and the steadily increasing bunch of supporters involving in shouting or booing each other down. Personal friendships took a backseat as bosom friends belonging to opposite camps were seen taunting each other. The game was becoming more and more competitive, with the BMs desperately trying to score and the IRs holding them down. With just a few minutes to go, Saurabh scored the second goal for IRs, bringing the game to a temporary halt with the IR junta overflowing with enthu on and off the field. A deserved photography session near the men’s hostel followed the 2-0 victory.