Mussoorie, August 17 – The Tibetan Homes Foundation School, Mussoorie, has won the 38th Jackie Memorial invitational football tournament at the St. George’s College ground on the eve of Indian Independence Day.
The most coveted football tournament of the hill town, a former resort for British officers and the first home to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in India, began on August 1.
The Tibetan school faced the defending champions St. George’s College which had the backing of its home crowd. A staff at the THF describes, “the atmosphere was ecstatic with several spectators from Tibetan settlements of Rajpur, Dickeyling, Clementown and Mussoorie cheering for the only Tibetan team in the tournament that consisted of 32 teams.
The final game between the home team and Tibetan Homes School saw its first goal from THF forward Kunga Thakpa giving his team the lead which was not to remain long as a foul by THF defender in the six yard box cost them a spot kick. Despite number of appeals by THF players, the referee stood adamant on his decision and awarded the penalty. St. Georges College equalized with a goal from the penalty.
Both the teams made some wonderful attempts to put the ball across the goal line but in vain taking the game into extra time. The extra time too was not enough for the two teams, which played neck and neck game of football, to score. The game then went into penalty shootout. With six penalties scored against their opponent’s 5, the Tibetan homes school became the deserving winner of the tournament for the third time since its founding. The Tibetans had won the trophy in 1988 and 1998.
The win has certainly lifted the team’s spirit after their unexpected exit from this year’s Gyalyum Chenmo gold cup in June with a loss in their very first game against TIPA (Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts).
Master Tenzin Gyurmey of Tibetan Homes School was adjudged the most promising player with 12 goals in 5 games.
The tournament, participated by schools and local football clubs, is organized by St. George’s College, an all boy’s residential and non-residential institution founded in 1853 by the Capuchin Fathers.
