Doha: MCC retained Champions trophy by hat-trick win defeating Tulukoota team

By Jerald DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Doha, 07 Nov 2016: Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar organized its 15th Annual Ladies Open Throwball Tournament on Thursday November 3rd and Friday Nov 4th 2016 at the Old Ideal Indian School grounds, near Midmac Flyover.

 

The annual tourney, one of the most popular events among the Mangalorean community in Qatar was inaugurated on Thursday November 3rd  evening with a welcome key note from the MCC president Prakash Noronha. MCC sports secretary Cyril D’souza introduced the five teams of the tournament, that is, Al-Khor Community led by Kannika Shetty, Konkan Stars led by Wilma D’Souza, Karnataka Sangha Qatar led by Shailaja Ranjith, Tulu Koota Qatar led by Vijaya Shetty and the host MCC team led by Indira Kunder. Joint Sports secretary Naveen D’souza conducted the oath-taking ceremony along with the match officials, team captains and managers on behalf of their teams. All team captains, Sports Secretaries,  President and Referee then released the balloons in the air marking the opening ceremony of 15th Ladies Annual Tournament.

 

 

The cool breezing weather became hot by the round-robin league matches which were well fought by all teams on both days and finally Tulu Koota Qatar and Mangalore Cricket Club teams qualified for the finals. All the five teams supporters were cheering up their respective teams. DJ Naveen played some beautiful numbers and commentators Mishal Lovely Lobo,Mahesh Prabhu,Abdul Salam kept the audience in sportive spirit. Cheer girls Vanessa Fernandes, Lara D’souza, Nikita Rego, Navitha Rego and Viola Monteiro, cheered the teams and the crowd with their beautiful dances to some good numbers choreographed by Jyothi D’Souza and Prabha Rego.

 

Soon after the league matches, Tulu Koota Qatar club made use of the opportunity and carried its social activity Environment clean Campaign  to bring awareness in our society of saving our environment where Tulukoota volunteers cleaned the ground and collected all garbage. President Ravi Shetty thanked MCC President Prakash Noronha for giving this opportunity  and it was well appreciated by the chief Guest of the evening Mr.Girish Kumar.

 

The final began on 4th Nov Friday evening 8.30PM. Before the finals, in the official stage programme was conducted. MCC President Prakash Noronha, and Sports secretary Cyril D’souza escorted the Chief Guest of the evening Girish Kumar, President of Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), main sponsor Alfred and Rita Sequeira of Gulf International Enterprises, Prestige Sponsor Francis Quadros, Proprietor of Al Amer Garage and Transport, Co-Sponsor Alan Currie, Finance Manager of SNC Lavalin, to the stage. They were greeted with flower bouquets by tiny tots.   Ryan Renjar, Joint Secretary conducted the grand march past of all teams to the thunderous applause of the audience.

 

All the team captains were honored by Chief Guest Girish Kumar and sponsors with a memento for their participation.

 

Mrs. Vijaya Shetty of Tulukoota team was honoured in recognition ofr her participation in all 15 editions of Throwball tournament with a memento by Alfred Sequeira.

 

Chief Guest Girish Kumar then honoured the Prestige Sponsors Mr. Francis Quadros of Al Amer Garage & Transport, Jerald D’Mello of J&J Infrastructure Co, Co-sponsors Mr. Wilfred Fernandes representingf Radisson Blu, Mr. Alan Currie of SNC Lavalin, Doha bank and Main Sponsor Mr. & Mrs Alfred Sequeira were given a special honour for their continued patronage as main sponsor in all 15 editions of the tournament. with a shawl, memento & fruit basket. Tulu Koota Qatar marks the event with its social activity like Environment Campaigns, where TKQ volunteers clean the ground with black garbage bags. The continue Environment campaign of TKQ was well appreciated from the chief Guest of the evening Mr. Girish Kumar.

 

Mr. Alfred Sequeira then spoke a few words thanking MCC for giving him the opportunity to patronage this tournament and for the honour. He praised the ladies for their sportsmanship and also thanked their families for supporting them in participating in these tournaments. Chief Guest then addressed the gathering and was in full praise of the club and congratulated President for organizing such a spectacular tournament for ladies for the past 15 years and for giving an opportunity to ladies to play in this part of the Gulf. He also congratulated all the teams for their participation in this sports event and wished the best for the finalist teams.

 

President & Sports Secretary then escorted the guests to meet the finalist teams and team captains introduced her team players to the guests. Chief Guest Girish Kumar and Main Sponsor Rita Sequeira along with sponsors tossed the ball to the captains declaring the final match open.

 

Tulu Koota Qatar and MCC  have been the finalists for the past 3 years and the final match is always a net to net nail baiting contest. Both the teams have won the championship multiple times and are made up of experienced as well as young players who give their best on field. Apart from this, both the teams have a great fan-following which results in high-decibel sporting extravaganza, each time.  It was again such intense, high-on-spirits and passion finals wherein two of the best captains of the tournament Vijaya Shetty of TKQ and Indira Kunder of MCC led their teams. It was indeed an edge-of-the-seat affair where the pendulum swung in favour of one team to the other constantly. While MCC won the first set comfortably 25-13, TKQ came roaring bagging the second set in a thrilling fashion with a score of 27-25. But MCC ladies held on to their nerves till the very end fighting from 0-5  down to win  the third set 15-11 to retain their Champions Trophy, Both the teams were equally good and matched each other in every department and tested all players strength with long rallies in midst of the cheering and excited crowd.

 

After the thrilling finals, the prize distribution ceremony was presided over by Alfred and Rita Sequeira, Franky Quadros and the President Prakash Noronha. Cyril D’souza honored the match referee Lynel Jaison Lobo for officiating all matches of the tournament with a memento. Richard D’Souza presented the best smasher award to Angela Dias of MCC Team, KSQ President H.K Madhu presented best all-rounder award to Swetha Shetty, TKQ President Ravi Shetty presented the best catcher to Suma Mahesh of MCC. Best Fair play team was awarded to Konkan Star Team.

 

Francis Quadros presented the medals and trophy to Runners–up Tulu Koota team while Vice President Ramachandra Shetty of Bunts Qatar presented them their certificates,  Alfred & Rita Sequeira  presented the Winners MCC team with medals, certificates and the Champions trophy to the reigning champions MCC team.

 

MCC Team was led by Captain Indira Kunder, Angela Antony, Mable Pereira, Maria D’Souza, Winnie Saldanha, Sunitha Tellis, Suma Mahesh, ,Aarti Fernandes, Siji Sunny, Treesa Goveas, Sunita D’Souza, Ashik Linda Lobo, Delita D’Souza, Sharon Lobo and Team Manager Riana Pinto. Team Coach Alexis Castelino.

 

Tulukoota team was led by Captain Vijaya Shetty, Shobha Shetty, Akshaya Shetty, Bharathi Shetty, Vani Prakash Rao, Jyothi Shetty, Shilpa Shetty, Reshma Sunil, Padmashree Shetty, Chandrakala Shetty, Praveena Shetty, Swetha Shetty, Aruna Shetty, Preethi Shetty and Team Coach : Prakash Rao.

 

The stage programme was well compered by Wilma D’souza.

 

The sports officials were John Britto and Vincent Mendonca as the rotation officers while Ryan Renjar, Arun D’Souza, Vijay D’Souza, Errol, Merwyn and Ranjith were the linesmen. The commentators’ desk was managed by Mishal Lovely Lobo, Mahesh Prabhu, Salam Mohammed Sheik, while the scoreboard was managed by Jessy Mendonca, Dephny Lobo and Preema Mathias and the registration desk was handled by Vanessa Saldanha.

 

MCC thanks all its sponsors for their support  Main Sponsor - Alfred & Rita Sequeira - Gulf International Enterprises, Prestige Sponsor: Francis Quadros - Al Amer Garage & Transportand Jerald D’Mello - J & J Infrastructure. Co-Sponsors:Alan Currie - SNC Lavalin, Wilfred Fernandes - Radisson Blu and Doha Bank. Other Sponsors: Advanced Technical service (Ravi Shetty) ,Euro Parts (Abdulla Monu), Integral Food Services (William Aranha), Golden trading & Decoration (Asmath Ali), Wing International Trading and Contracting, Canara Jewellers, Bombay Silk Centre, Akshaya Jewellers, Oxy Print house, Integral Uniform, Intermodel Service Company, DHL Qatar, Dandy Ice cream.