“In order to celebrate the academy’s first anniversary -- January 3 -- we thought of organising a tournament (Jude Felix Academy Invitational hockey tournament) and thankfully things have turned out the way I wanted,” said Felix on Sunday.
Three teams from Bangalore -- Madras Engineering Group, BEML Sports Club and Sports Authority of India -- and Singapore Recreational Club will battle for the top prize in the three-day tourney at St Mary’s Orphanage grounds, the home of Felix’s academy.
In a bid to encourage teams to score goals, the tournament, to be played in a round robin format, will award two points for every field goal and one point for a successful penalty conversion. The top teams as well as the third and fourth placed teams will clash again in a ‘face-off’ where a player will be involved in a one-on-one with the opposite goalkeeper and has eight seconds to score from the 25-yard line.
“While the tournament is being staged to showcase our charitable work as well try and get people involved, we want the tournament to be as competitive as possible. Hence, we decided to award points for every goal scored and thought of having a face off,” said Shanmugham P, Secretary of JFHA.
A three-match tourney for women also will be held in memory of former Karnataka player Babita Johnas who passed away due to cancer this year. SRC, Rangers and a all-boys squad from the academy will complete the line-up.
Meanwhile, SRC Men’s hockey Convenor Lawrence Lee said his club would donate uniforms to the orphanage kids.
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