Old rivalry takes a turn for the worse

As an egg came hurling onto the field at the start of the second half between the St Joseph’s and Bishop Cotton in the Centenary final, the organisers anticipated a repeat of the riot-like behaviour seen during the first semifinal and strengthened security in the vicinity of the field.

The match went on with the stands -- one filled with students from St Joseph’s and the other from Cottons -- screaming at the other team more than cheering their own on, but it didn’t stop there.

As the St Joseph’s boys’ teams (Juniors and Senior) went on a victory lap around the field, their player Glen Vivian D’Souza was hit on the right side of his forehead by a hockey stick thrown from the stand occupied by the Cottonians.

As the lanky lad walked towards the dug-out for first-aid with tears in his eyes, students from St Joseph’s College, who had come in good number, charged towards the Cottons’ stand and hurled objects at them while the cops tried to contain them.

Even as the cops somehow managed to get things under control, St Joseph’s students from the crowd began throwing eggs and tomatoes at the Cottonians waiting for their runners-up trophy.

The tournaments are organised by the St Joseph’s Boys High School and tournament secretary H Shivaprakash said action would be taken to stop the menace.
“The principal is very much aware of the situation and something will be done soon,” he said.

“We have been trying hard to keep this championship clean and spot young talent but there are some elements that come in and spoil the whole show.”

“Unlike before, we increased security and made sure students from different schools sat in different stands but still somehow these things happen,” he added, stating that it’s the college students who turn up to watch the matches that cause most of these problems.

When asked if the tournament was going to be moved out from the KSHA stadium to the St Joseph’s grounds, he said: “The principal has taken note of what has happened and he will take a decision. That (the move) is one option but there is no way we will not conduct the tournament in the future.”