THREE days after re-opening of schools (State board), kids will be back on the ground, wearing their school jerseys, with their favourite numbers printed on their backs. They will fight for the ball in the slush during heavy rains at the Divisional Sports Complex, Mankapur football ground from Thursday as District Sports Office gets ready to start their sporting season with the Subroto Mukherjee Cup Football Tournament in various age groups. With the Euro and Copa America, two prestigious tournaments of the world football under way, the budding school-going kids would be eager to show their skills they learnt while watching their favourite international footballers late in the night. The opening day of Subroto Mukherjee Cup will see girls locking horns against each other in the Under-17 NMC level and District level competitions.

 

The Under-17 girls from Delhi Public School, Kamptee and School of Scholars, Beltarodi will mark the opening of the tournament at 9 am in the district level tournament. The match will be followed by the encounter between Jain International and Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Ashti at 10 am. This match will be followed by Delhi Public School, Lava and Podar International tie at 10.30 am. The 8-team group’s last knock-out match of the day will see K John, Pipla fight with Pragatik Vidyalaya, Koradi at 11 am. The semis would be played on Friday and final of this section on Saturday.

 

In the NMC level competition, Centre Point School, Katol Road will meet St Joseph’s Convent at 12 noon on Thursday followed by the match between Centre Point School, Wardhaman Nagar and St Vincent Pallotti girls at 12.30 pm. Title favourites St Ursula girls will start their campaign against Bhavan’s Bhagwandas Purohit Vidya Mandir, Srikrishna Nagar at 1 pm while Narayana Vidyalayam will clash with Centre Point School, Dabha at 1.30 pm. The semis in this category will also be played on Friday followed by final on Saturday. From Friday, the Under-17 boys (NMC) matches will also get under way at the same venue. Six knock-out matches will be played on Friday. The quarter-finals will be played on Sunday and semi-finals and final on Monday, July 8. Anil Borwar is the game incharge.