Mangalore, Jul 20: Over 200 teams in six categories will compete for the winning spot in the 17th edition of the Independence Cup football tournament organised by Dakshina Kannada District Football Association (DKDFA) in Mangalore, the final of which will be held on August 15.
The month-long tournament was inaugurated here at Nehru Maidan on Saturday with a kick-off by Assistant General Manager of Corporation Bank Govind H Pai, in the presence of football teams from various schools across the district.
Rain proved no deterrent for students who had assembled for the first leg of the tournament as teams played vigorously against their opponents. The first match of the tournament was played between Sacred Heart Higher Primary School, Kulshekar and SDM Higher Primary School, Ujire.
In his inaugural address, Principal of Rosario College of Management Fr Alwin Serrao said that people in the nation followed the game of cricket with a frenzy, but such was not the case for other sports. Hockey is hardly seen anymore, but football has managed to survive, which should be kept alive through tournaments, he said, wishing that the tradition of football would continue for years.
Participation is of utmost importance in sports, he told the players, quoting the famous adage 'Winners never quit'.
He said that organising such an immense tournament was difficult, but the football association had managed to do so, and lauded their efforts.
Speaking on the occasion, corporator Diwakar said that football did not receive the same kind of encouragement that cricket received.
The tournament is a good opportunity to bring out and recognise the talents of young children, he said.
DKDFA president D M Aslam said that 54 teams had registered so far in the high school boys category, and 10 in the girls category. There were 27 teams in the higher primary boys and seven in girls category. About 27 teams had registered in the category of PU colleges, he said.
Karnataka State Football Association (KSFA) member Vijaya Suvarna and DKDFA secretary Mohammed Hussain Bolar were present on the occasion.
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