Age was no bar to step out and show off some dribbling skills with the rain only making them hungrier to score. After all, this was Al’soccer Carnival 2016, presented by Alumnorum Societas (AlSOC), in association with The Telegraph, at the St. Xavier’s College grounds.

New memories were made with old friends on the field, and off it too. This five-a-side soccer tournament, as part of the Al’Soccer Carnival, had 12 teams, bringing together teachers and ex-students of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School. It was amusing as well as inspiring to see how competitive things got, even with players aged 40 and above. Even more awesome was the bond they seemed to share off the field. 

The temperature rose many a notch when the Purple team and the Red team entered a penalty shoot-out for a spot in the final. Team Purple edged past Red to face defending champions Orange. In the final, Team Orange beat Team Purple 5:1 to be crowned champions for the second time on the ball.

“It is great to see how students come back each year and cherish their friendships,” said Father Benny Thomas, principal of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School. Asked when he would be seen on the field again, he smiled and said: “May be next year”.

Team Orange couldn’t stop grinning after their big win. “Winning a second time in two years feels surreal! Although, more than winning, it’s more about coming together and having an enjoyable day. I have great admiration for the senior members of ALSOC. More than us, they are the real victors because they come out and have a great time and cherish their friendships,” said winning captain Arjun Ghose (in purple), from the class of 2015.

Team Purple lost the finals but wowed with their sportsman spirit! “I have been playing Al’Soccer since 1996... that’s 20 years! For me, this is a chance to go back to school. Yes, it’s a fun-filled tournament, but we are all very competitive. We are even more motivated to come back and win next year,” said Ratan Postwalla (second from left, standing), captain of the Purple team and a Xaverian from the class of 1993. 

Our sons also study in the same school, so I keep meeting many of my school mates. ALSOC is like an extended family. I’ve been coming for Al’Soccer for seven years now and it has made me feel even closer to my school —  Kaushik Paul, batch of 1992 

Al’Soccer is like a carnival for our old boys. They look towards us and smile every time they score a goal. It should be this way as this is the only place where they can beat us! We have played against students one-third our age. But above all, it’s about coming together and having a great day
—  Rajat Kothari, games teacher, St. Xavier’s Collegiate School

Al’Soccer is a reunion for us. The whole year we are busy with our respective schedules. But we all love football and it’s always an honour to play on our school grounds — Ananya Chaudhary, batch of 2012

AlSoc is all about fellowship. Today I have met friends who are both 20 years junior to me and 20 years senior to me! 
— Sanjay Loiwal, managing member of ALSOC, who was cheering his friends from the sidelines.

Text: Rushabh Shah
Pictures: Chanchal Ghosh