Udupi/M’Belle: Dandatheertha High School Kaup Volleyball team lifts Mercy Trophy 2016

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 04 Jan 2016: Dandatheertha High School Kaup Volleyball team was the winner of Mercy Trophy 2016 and Government High School Volakkadu team was the runners up in a keenly contested Volleyball tournament for high school boys that was held on Monday, 4 January 2016 at St. Lawrence PU College Grounds in which 14 teams had taken part. The winners were awarded  cash prize of Rs.5, 555/- and the trophy. The runners up were given cash prize of Rs. 3,333/- and the trophy. Nitesh Kumar of Government High School Volakkadu was adjudged as the Best Smasher and Mohammad Saif Alim of Dandatheertha High School was the Best Setter.

 

This is the fifth year that the Mercy Trophy tournament  has been organized. This year’s Mercy Trophy was in memory of Baby Wenola Aranha who passed away on 15 July 2015 at the  age of three years and two months. Baby Wenola’s parents-Preetham and Marita Aranha were present at the inaugural and valedictory functions.

 

The Mercy Trophy 2016 was inaugurated at 9.30 am in St. Lawrence PU College Ground. Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza,  Secretary of Catholic Education Society of Udupi(CESU) was the chief guest. Other guests of honour included-Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas-Parish Priest of Moodubelle, Mrs. Ranjani Hegde-President of Belle Grama Panchayat, Mrs. Ida Gibba D’Souza-member of Udupi Zilla Panchayat, Shivaji Suvarna-member of Belle Grama Panchayat, Ronald Sabi D’Souza, Mrs. Leena D’Sa-Headmistress of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School, Mrs. Veera Fernandes-Headmistress of St. Lawrence English Medium High School and Vincent Fernandes.

 

Following the welcome address by Mrs. Veera Fernandes and Ivan Menezes-organizer of the Mercy Trophy 2016, the tournament was formally inaugurated by the dignitaries by lighting the lamp.

 

Mrs. Ranjani Hegde, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Ronald Sabi and Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza addressing the teams and students encouraged them to put in their best sportsmanship spirit and play the game to the best of their abilities.

 

One of the important and interesting part of the tournament was the exhibition of vintage vehicles painstakingly collected by Ronald Sabi D’Souza. The assorted vintage vehicles ranged from scooter to motorcycle to cars, jeeps and even an army truck. The oldest vehicle in the lot was Austin 7 Chummy of 1926 which according to Ronald Sabi is the only one available in India. The other was Austin Sports Coupe of 1928. Students from St. Lawrence Educational Institutions had this rare opportunity of viewing the various vintage vehicles. Credit goes to Ronald Sabi for not only collecting such vintage vehicles but also taking the trouble of bringing them to St. Lawrence PU College Ground so that the students would be able to see such vehicles without having to go to some vintage vehicle museums.

 

The first Semi Final match was played between St. John’s High School, Shankerpura and Government High School Volakkadu in which the latter emerged as victorious. In the second Semi Final match Danda Theertha High School Kaup was victorious by defeating Mount Rosary High School, Kallianpura. In the final contest, Dandatheertha High School team became victorious thus lifting the Mercy trophy 2016.

 

The valedictory function was held at 5 pm. Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas and Gerald Fernandes, former President of Udupi Zilla Panchayat were the guests of honour. During this function, like in previous years, the Mercy Trophy organizers gave financial assistance to some needy families. The cheques were handed over to the beneficiaries by Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas.

 

Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas and Gerald Fernandes handed over Trophies to the winning and runners up teams. Valerian Crasta, Physical Instructor of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School read out the results of the tournament.

 

Both the inaugural and valedictory functions were compeered by Mrs. Sumalatha Nayak, teacher of St. Lawrence English Medium High School and vote of thanks was proposed by Ivan Menezes.