Report: Lavina D’Sa
Pics: Joachim D’Souza
Muscat, 3 Nov: Mangalorean Catholic centre of the Parish (MCCP), Muscat, organised its Annual Cricket Day on the Friday, Oct 28. It was held at the GPDCO cricket ground.
The programme commenced early in the day, with a warm welcome by president Dilip Correa, to all the enthusiastic players. He shared his enthusiasm with cricket lovers saying, cricket is a religion in India and all the cricketers are its ardent devotees.
Lavina D’Sa, vice president for Cultural, Spiritual and Community Services, led the gathering, invoking blessings from the Almighty with a prayer. The programme was inaugurated by releasing the colourful balloons. The executive committee of MCCP then had a torch run around the cricket ground, to mark the inaugural of the tournament.
The president, Dilip Correa and vice president sports and finance, Jessie Pereira marked the beginning of the tournament by hitting the first ball of the game.
Dolly Gomes, a very well known and energetic sports personality in the Mangalorean community in Muscat, helped form the teams and helped to continue the matches in a very professional and time bound frame. She also presented the rules to all the teams. Her talent in sports gave the whole event a professional touch. Srinivas Prabhu, Samir Parker, Kiran and Ritesh were the match umpires.
Henry Rodrigues was the official scorer. Praveen Serra a well known Konkani activist and an enthusiastic compere conducted the event for the day. Terence D'Souza, Ajith D’Costa and Russel D’Souza kept the crowd entertained with their lively commentary.
Asha Noronha, supported the event with her timely medical care. Meera Saldanha said the grace before meals.
STS Oman, courtesy Ganesh Shetty, general manager of the company was the main event sponsor. Glen Monis and Lancy Coelho from M/s Jibal Mansur Trading, Barkha were the support sponsors. Walter Mendonca sponsored the sound systems. Water was provided by Oasis, courtesy Robert, and energy drinks by Muscat Pharmacy and Stores LLC, courtesy Wilfred Castelino.
The winners of the category Below 40 Men’s Cricket were Naveen Mascarenhas -Captain, Sunil D’Souza, Vikas, Rayan, John, Praveen, Dalton, Rolson, Prem, Ashok D’Souza and Rohan.
Runners-up were Lynel Lobo-Captain, Raphael D'Souza, Naveen D’Costa, Neil Castelino, Shawn Monteiro, Mark, Rayan, Lawrence, Noel D'Souza, Noel Machado and Roshan.
In the category of Above 40 Men’s Cricket, winners were Deepak D’Souza-Captain , Ronald Sunil, Roshan Tellis, Emmanuel Monis, Alban Menezes, Melwin D’Souza, Vincent D’Costa, Stany, Rudolf Rodrigues, Antony Miranda, Wilfred Castelino, Thomas and Prem Colaco.
Runners-up were Lancy Saldanha-Captain, Ritesh, Stephen Monteiro, Jossy D’Souza, Donald Quadros, Sunil, Joseph Rodrigues, Paul D’Souza, Eugine Sequeira, Cyril Sequeira, Victor Walter, Edward Mendonca, Sunil Furtado and Teril Saldanha.
In the Ladies' Cricket division, winners were Lavina D’Sa-Captain, Priyanka Mendonca, Praneeta Monteiro, Tina Saldanha, Sunita D’Souza, Cynthia Lobo, Diana Lewis, Lydia Nancy, Reshma D’Costa, Gracy Barboza, Helen Sequeira, Linda D’Souza and Meera Saldanha.
Runners-up were Trecilla Menezes-Captain, Synthia Saldanha, Flavia D’Souza, Lilly D'Souza, Philomena Mendonca, Aslita D’Souza, Jacintha Pereira, Pramila Pasannah, Reshma Rodrigues, Flavia D'Souza, Janet Rodrigues, Elvira Machado, Zeeliya D’Souza, Lavina Menezes.
Children's Cricket winners were Shane Menezes, and team and Runners-up were Andril Lobo and team.
The special attraction of the day was the shot put event which was arranged and well organised by Lynel Lobo, the sports secretary. The people present there were enthralled to play their favourite game which they had missed for quite a long time. The winner of shot put of the below 40 Men’s category was Glen Monis, and the runner-up was Ronson D’Souza.
In the shot put for above 40 men’s category, the winner was Alban Monis and the runner-up, Prem Colaco. In the shot put for Ladies, the winner was Flavia Fernandes, and the runner-up, Synthia Saldanha.
Ganesh Shetty, Prithvi Coelho and Stanley Fernandes gave away the medals and trophies to the winners of various categories. The event was organised with great professionalism by all the team members of the executive committee of MCCP for the year 2016-17 which comprises Dilip Correa, Jessie Pereira, Lavina D’Sa, Ashok Pinto, Trescilla Menezes, Melita Alva, Sachin Lobo, Jason Cardoza, Naveen Mascarenhas and Lynel Lobo.