Torn ball, smelly bibs for MSSA footballers

Participants in a Mumbai Schools Sports Association Utpal Sanghvi inter-school U-14 fixture at the Goan Sports Association ground were handed smelly bibs and a torn ball on Friday.

This, despite the MSSA charging schools R50 as washing charges for bibs that are provided to distinguish teams wearing similar coloured jerseys. Then, two of the three balls provided for the Campion (Colaba) vs Dr Antonio Da Silva (Dadar) match were in unplayable condition - torn and shapeless.

Players of Campion's U-14 team wearing different coloured bibs due to MSSA's shortage of bibs of the same colour. Pics/Bipin Kokate

Furthermore, all the bibs were not even of the same colour, and 10 of Campion's players were seen wearing green fluorescent bibs while two were given yellow ones.

The torn football which the referee deemed unplayable

Campion coach Wilfred Alex Alva was livid. "We received dirty, smelly bibs today. If we are being charged for washing of the bibs, we must be given washed ones. These are basic facilities," said Alva. MSSA Hon Secretary Sebastian Fernandes said he will look into the matter of dirty bibs. "Regarding the torn footballs, match officials should know that we have plenty of balls lying here in our office which they can use."

Result: Campion 6 (J Duckworth 4, A Thaker, S Motwani) bt Dr Antonio Da Silva (Dadar) 0