ALSOCCER, the annual footfall tournament of ALSOC or the St. Xavier’s School Old Boys’ Association, in association with The Telegraph, was held earlier this month at the St. Xavier’s school and college grounds on Park Street. The 26th edition of the game kicked off with great fervour and excitement. The tournament, like every year, included players from all age groups and walks of life, who celebrated their friendship and got an opportunity to show their sportsmanship yet again on the familiar ground of their school campus.
With 18 teams participating, the alumni members played the match in several rounds divided into sections. The ground was filled with the players’ thrill and excitement, and the quotient of enthusiasm was doubled every time a player from any of the teams scored a goal. The tournament wrapped up with the award ceremony and the alumni members made a promise to make ALSOCCER a more successful event in years to come. Glimpses:
Brothers’ Barasat Team (in pink) in action against Pujon Chatterjee’s team (in green). “Although mainly meant for the old boys of the school, in the present times we would also like to include the fathers’ team as well. There lies a lot of energy among the players. The main idea behind organising this event is to have a feeling of brotherhood as there are batches from different years. Different age groups of people are also coming together and getting a chance to know and understand each other much better. At the same time, we all have the feeling of being proud Xaverians in mind, body and spirit,” said Fr. M. Thamacin Arulappan S.J., principal of St.Xavier’s Collegiate School.
Allan Futado’s team won the golden plate
Fr. M. Thamacin Arulappan S.J., principal of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School, and Sanjay Loiwal, honorary secretary of ALSOC, felicitated chief guest Subrata Paul, the former goalkeeper for India and Jamshedpur, and presently of Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
Teachers (in red jerseys) of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School who actively participated in the football tournament were felicitated.
“We have students coming from different batches. Our oldest player is 63, and the youngest player is 20. We have this excellent friendship and fellowship going around, and that is why we enjoy coming back to school to meet our friends and fellow mates,” said Amish Raja, convenor of ALSOCCER.
Brothers of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School posed for a picture at the event.
The ALSOCCER committee members.