MSSA Div II: CNM lose game, but win hearts

Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial team walk out after a two-hour long wait, before they came back to play their Mumbai Schools Sports Association girls' U-16 Division II tie at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

True sportsmanship was on display at Azad Maidan during the Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) Div II girls' match involving Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial (CNM) School, Vile Parle and Bai Avabai Framji Petit Girls High School (Bandra) yesterday.

CNM coach Vivian Menezes had the option of getting three points courtesy of a walkover after Bai Avabai reported to the ground two hours late. However, Menezes decided otherwise and played.

Both teams were slated to play their match at 12 pm, but the Bandra outfit got stuck in a traffic jam between Dadar TTâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088junction and JJ Hospital caused by Jain festival Paryushana.

Dinaz Sarkari

Unfortunately, CNM went down to Bai Avabai 0-2 thanks to Dinaz Sarkari's brace.

Rajaram Shetty, coach of Bai Avabai, informed the MSSA of their predicament , and stated they would be late by half an hour to which the opposition obliged stating they would play.

At 2 pm when there were no signs of the Bandra outfit, CNM decided to get a walkover.

Bai Avabai team arrived in the nick of time and persuaded Menezes and MSSA general secretary Esmero Figueiredo to let them play - to which they both obliged.

After the win, Shetty made sure everyone of their players shook hands with the opposition after the match.

Shetty was full of praise for his counterpart and Figueiredo. "The CNM coach showed tremendous spirit in playing the match despite waiting for so long. He could have easily raised his hands and got the three points if he had to, but he chose to play. I also thank Esmero for letting us play."

When quizzed as to why he did not opt for a walkover and get the three points, Menezes said, "I wanted them to play. I don't care about winning or losing. I can understand their predicament so we decided to play."