The old boys of St. Xavier’s Collegiate School can test whether they still have the speed, stamina and strength to be sporting champs at the Al’soccer and Arm Wrestling Carnival, to be held at the school grounds on Saturday.
Registration for the carnival, organised by Alumnorum Societas (Alsoc) in association with t2, will start at 3.30pm. Members can participate in a five-a-side tournament as well as a 20-20 match or an inter-school alumni arm-wrestling competition.
The football tournament will kick off the carnival at 4pm. Eight five-member teams will play in knockout matches of two 10-minute halves to make it to the semi-finals.
Association members will make up the teams barring the one teachers-only squad. Each team will have three extras.
While the old boys catch their breath after the matches, their children will take the field to show off their soccer skills.
“This is a fun match for children of all ages. Even their fathers can join in but with handicaps. For example, they might be allowed to touch the ball only with their left foot,” said Kaushik Paul, the convener of the event.
The big boys will return to the field for the semi-finals. The final will be preceded by the 20-20 match. Each of the teams can comprise up to 20 players for the 20-minute-per-half contest.
“This in memory of all those times in school when it was not possible to play matches with 11-member teams and any number of players would do,” said Paul.
The arm-wrestling competition, the first organised by the association, will be held in the gymnasium during the soccer matches.
Four-member alumni teams from La Martiniere for Boys, Don Bosco Park Circus, Julien Day School, Birla High School for Boys and Calcutta Boys School as well as St. Xavier’s will participate in the trial of strength. The teams will be divided into two groups. The winners from each will meet in the final.
“Inter-school alumni quiz contests and debates are common. We wanted to do something different. Maybe this can grow into a strong-arm championship one day,” said Paul.
A prize distribution ceremony will bring the curtains down on the carnival.
