Near-confusion in inter-school match over two No 4 jerseys

Rajhans Vidyalaya's Bhavya Choksi (left) and Mann Gala (centre) are seen sporting No 4 jerseys after their U-12 match against SVKM JV Parekh International School at Azad Maidan yesterday

Rajhans Vidyalaya (Andheri) and SVKM JV Parekh International School (Vile Parle) played out a 1-1 draw in their Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) boys' U-12 Division III inter-school football match at Azad Maidan yesterday.


Rajhans Vidyalaya's Bhavya Choksi (left) and Mann Gala (centre) are seen sporting No 4 jerseys after their U-12 match against SVKM JV Parekh International School at Azad Maidan yesterday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

While Vansh Diora scored in the fourth minute to hand the Vile Parle school the lead, Bhavya Choksi equalised two minutes later for the Andheri school.

The goal caused a brief moment of confusion for the referee Saif Shaikh as Bhavya was wearing a No 4 jersey while a teammate Mann Gala was also sporting a jersey of the same number.

The problem arose because the Andheri outfit did not have jerseys of the same colour and wore bibs given to them by MSSA. Since Bhavya was wearing a yellow jersey which matched the colour of the MSSA bibs, the team chose not to give him a bib.

To avoid any further confusion, referee Shaikh met both the boys at half-time but decided against asking Bhavya to wear a bib.

"Mann was wearing red shorts while Bhavya was wearing yellow shorts, so I could easily distinguish between them," Shaikh said.

"We have placed an order for jerseys but are yet to receive them. That's why I told my boys to come in football attire. In our next game, we will surely have proper jerseys," said Rajhans Vidyalaya's coach, Manoj Nair.